Advances in Biological Research 13 (4): 134-145, 2019 ISSN 1992-0067 © IDOSI Publications, 2019 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.abr.2019.134.145 Corresponding Author: Frehiwot Mesele, Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box: 35, Ziway, Ethiopia. Tel: +251-464-41-91-01, +251 946946618. 134 Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Foods of Animal Origin and its Food Safety Implications: Review Frehiwot Mesele and Fufa Abunna 1 2 Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box: 35, Ziway, Ethiopia 1 Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia 2 Abstract: Foodborne diseases have become one of the significant public health problems all over the world. Bacterial food borne illnesses are among the widest spread global public health problems. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of numerous types of bacteria that usually inhabit the intestine of humans and animals. Some strains of E. coli are capable of producing disease when the immune system is compromised as a result from an ecological exposure. E. coli O157:H7 is one of the strains that can cause life threatening food borne illness. The most common route of transmission for E. coli O157:H7 infections are via ingesting of contaminated food and water. Fecal contamination of other food products or direct contact with infected animals. However, it can also be spread directly from person to person and from animal to person. Pretentious individuals show a series of symptoms including hemolytic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombocytopenia purpura. Occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks have been related with consumption of contaminated meat, dairy products, fish and poultry products and have been reported from all continents except Antarctica. Diagnosing of E. coli O157:H7 is based on phenotypic differences from most other strains: its incapability to ferment sorbitol on MacConkey sorbitol agar and absenteeism of â-glucuronidase activity in most strains. There is no specific treatment for E. coli O157:H7 infection and the use of antibiotics may be contraindicated because of the potential to proliferation production and secretion of Shiga toxins; hence treatment is primarily supportive to limit the period of signs and avoid systemic complications. The protective measures comprise food hygiene measures like appropriate cooking of meat, consumption of correctly pasteurized milk, washing fruits and vegetables especially those to be eaten raw and drinking chlorine treated water and personnel hygiene. Thus, the aim of this review is to climax the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 in food of animal origin and its food safety implication. Key words: E. coli O157:H7 Food Borne Illnesses Food of Animal Origin Public Health INTRODUCTION of animal origin as the major vehicles food-borne diseases Food safety is one of the notable matters for the vegetables, uncooked or poorly cooked meat and poultry agricultural industry especially in livestock production and their products are generally regarded as high risk segment [1]. Foodborne diseases have become one of the commodity in respect of pathogen contents, natural toxins significant public health problems all over the world and and other possible contaminants and adulterants [5-7]. commonly occur in developing countries [2, 3] mainly in Bacterial food borne illnesses are amongst the most Africa because of the prevailing poor food handling and widest spread global public health problems of recent sanitation practices, inadequate food safety laws, weak times and their implication for health and economy is regulatory system, lack of financial resources to invest in increasingly recognized [5, 8]. Escherichia coli is one of safer equipment and lack of education for food-handlers several types of bacteria that normally inhabit the [4, 5]. In these countries, food-borne diseases cost intestine of humans and animals as commensal organism billions of dollars in medical care and social costs [6, 7]. [9-11]. Some strains of E. coli such as E. coli O157:H7 are Numerous epidemiological studies have implicated food capable of producing disease when the immune system is [1]. Animal products like raw milk, cream, creamed fish,