[Isolation of Vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) from imported meats]

One hundred and four samples of various imported meats obtained from the stores and supermarkets in Matsuyama-city and Iyo-city from November, 1987 to October, 1988 were examined and two strains of Vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli were isolated: one was from beef from Australia and the other was from pork from Canada. By bead-ELISA, it was confirmed that the strain from beef produced Vero Toxin 1 (VT1) and Vero Toxin 2 variant (VT2vh) and the strain from pork produced VT2vh. These results suggest that imported meats may be contaminated with VTEC and thus are possible sources of human VTEC infection, such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome.