Evaluation of ERIC-PCR method for determining genetic diversity among Escherichia coli isolated from human and retail imported frozen shrimp and beef

Abstract There is a global concern and increasing reports regarding foodborne disease infections associated with consuming contaminated vegetables, seafood, meat, poultry products. Among bacterial pathogens globally, Salmonella , Escherichia coli Shigella were the most frequently implicated in causing food poisoning children adults. In Saudi Arabia, consumption rates of imported fresh fruits, meat products are considered high. Therefore, development simple PCR based DNA fingerprinting methods essential to track source route microbial contamination among frozen seafood A total 38 E. strains subtyped using ERIC1R, ERIC2, pair combination (ERIC1R + ERIC2) generate genomic fingerprinting. The three Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ERIC-PCR)-based primers generated 26, 24, 16 different genotypes while ERIC1R respectively. Discrimination Index values obtained by ERIC2 0.976, 0.965, 0.903, had best discriminatory ability typeability value proved suitable for investigating genetic analysis population strains. At same time, primer has average power differentiating These results suggest that subtyping more reliable rapid typing strategy