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Cefixime–tellurite rhamnose MacConkey agar for isolation of Vero cytotoxin‐producing Escherichia coli serogroup O26 from Scottish cattle and sheep faeces
Author(s) -
Evans J.,
Knight H.I.,
Smith A.W.,
Pearce M.C.,
Hall M.,
Foster G.,
Low J.C.,
Gunn G.J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2008.02402.x
Subject(s) - cefixime , vtec , macconkey agar , rhamnose , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , agar , feces , biology , isolation (microbiology) , agar plate , escherichia , bacteria , cephalosporin , gene , genetics , antibiotics , biochemistry , galactose
Aims: To compare rhamnose MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and tellurite (CT‐RMac) and tryptone bile X‐glucuronide (TBX) agars as isolation media for Vero cytotoxin‐producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) serogroup O26 from animal faeces. Methods and Results: Nine VTEC O26 were isolated from sheep faeces; out of which six were isolated only on CT‐RMac and one was isolated only on TBX. One hundred and twelve VTEC O26 were isolated from calf faeces; out of which 97% were from CT‐RMac and 52% were from TBX. In a study of E. coli O26 strains, 84% of VT‐positive O26 did not ferment rhamnose when compared with 16% of VT‐negative O26. VT‐positive (19%) and VT‐negative (39%) E. coli O26 strains did not grow on CT‐RMac agar. Conclusions: It is important to consider that VTEC O26 strains either may ferment rhamnose or may be sensitive to the CT supplement of CT‐RMac agar. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work compares CT‐RMac and TBX agars as isolation medium for VTEC O26 from Scottish animal faeces and highlights that VTEC O26 may be missed if only CT‐RMac agar is used.