Microbes and Infectious Diseases 2025; 6(3): 5020-5028 Microbes and Infectious Diseases Journal homepage: https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/ DOI: 10.21608/MID.2024.323848.2248 * Corresponding author: ABDULRAZAK LAWAL E-mail address: lawalabdul19@hotmail.com © 2020 The author (s). Published by Zagazig University. This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Original article Isolation and characterization of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from cattle feces within Zaria Metropolis, Nigeria Abdulrazak Lawal* 1 , Lawan Muhammad Kabir 2 , Fatima Tanimu Balarabe 3 , Yusuf Abubakar 4 , Mannir Dahiru Usman 5 , Fatima Yusuf Lawal 6 , Yuguda Muhammad Umar 7 1. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. 2. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. 3. Department of scientific and industrial research, National Research Institute For Chemical Technology Zaria, Nigeria. 4. Federal University of Agriculture Zuru, Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria 5. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bayero University, Kano Nigeria 6. Department of Veterinary public health and preventative medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. 7. Department of Veterinary public health and preventative medicine, Bayero University Kano. Introduction Escherichia coli O157:H7 has emerged as a pathogen of public health significance globally. The organism can cause a wide range of diseases in humans, from mild diarrhea to life-threatening conditions such as hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) [1]. Shiga toxin- producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is a major foodborne pathogen responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It produces Shiga toxins (stx1 and stx2) that cause severe gastrointestinal illnesses, such as HC and A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 25 September 2024 Received in revised form 14 October 2024 Accepted 27 November 2024 Keywords: Escherichia coli O157:H7 Shiga toxin Cattle zoonosis Latex agglutination Multiplex PCR Nigeria. A B S T R A C T Background: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is a significant zoonotic pathogen implicated in severe human illnesses such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Cattle are known asymptomatic reservoirs, and their fecal shedding of the pathogen poses a public health risk through contamination of food and water sources. This study aimed to isolate and molecularly characterize STEC O157:H7 from cattle feces within Zaria Metropolis, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted. A total of 328 cattle faecal samples were collected from Eight (8) different Fulani cattle herds. Faecal samples where enriched, selectively cultured, and screened for E. coli O157:H7 using Wellcolex rapid latex agglutination kit and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA genes. Results: A total of 26(7.93%) isolates were positive for E. coli O157:H7 using Wellcolex rapid latex agglutination kit. Out of which, 1(0.31%) isolate was found in bull while 25(7.62%) were in cows, 3(0.91%) isolates were in calves while 23(7.02%) in adult cattle and 4(1.22%) were in Bokoloji while 22(6.71%) were in Bunaji, a total 26 isolates were subjected to multiplex PCR, only 2(7.69%) expressed the shiga toxin genes (stx1). Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of shiga toxin producing E. coli O157:H7 in the cattle population of Zaria and the need for stringent control measures to prevent transmission to humans.