[Verotoxin production and adhesion genes of E. coli isolates from commercial poultry and psittacines: detection by PCR].
A total of 101 E. coli isolates from commercial poultry, companion psittacine birds and psittacine faecal samples were tested by the PCR technique for the presence of genes coding for verotoxin (slt I and slt II) production and adhesion to intestinal cells (eaeA gene). The O 157:H 7 strain EDL 933 served as positive control. Verotoxin production was assessed in Vero cell cultures. One E. coli isolate showed both alpha-haemolysis and enterohaemolysis (haemolysin production) but no gene for verotoxin production. All other isolates were negative for slt I, slt II and eaeA genes.