Med. Weter. 71 (2), 84-87, 2015
full text
| Rola J.G., Osek J. |
| Milk and milk products as a source of food-borne infections caused by Escherichia coli |
| Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) can cause various diseases, from non-bloody diarrhoea, through haemorrhagic colitis, to haemolytic uraemic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopanic purpura in humans, especially in young children and the elderly. Ruminants, particularly cattle, are the main natural reservoir for VTEC. These animals are asymptomatic carriers and excretors of this pathogen and visually are indistinguishable from unot infected animals. Outbreaks of VTEC infection in humans are associated mainly with the consumption of contaminated food. There areis evidence that raw cow milk can be one of these sources of infection. Contamination of milk can occur during the milking process or after pasteurization due to poor hygiene practices. It whas also been found that some strains of VTEC can survive during the cheese making process and cheeses manufactured from contaminated milk can be responsible for disease in humans. This review article discusses thea problem of food-borne infections caused by milk and milk products contaminated with VTEC. |
| Key words: milk, milk products , verotoxigenic E. coli VTEC, |