Escherechia coli are gram-ve ,flagellated rods,that inhabit the intestinal tract of human &other warmblooded animals(mammals/birds).

Although most strains are harmless,but some of them produces powerful toxins,which causes severe illness. Two classes of toxins are produced by enterotoxigenic strain of e-coli,they are, a)heat labile enterotoxin or labile toxin(LT) b)Heat stable enterotoxin or stable toxin(ST)

The e-coli.serotype,responsible for numerous reports of outbrake traced to consumption of contaminated food like raw milk,meat,water etc are those that produce shiga toxin Best known & most notorious stx(shiga toxin) producing e-coli is e-coli 0157:H7. Shiga toxin is one of the most potent toxin ,so that centers for disease control and prevention (CDC)list it as potential bioterrorist.

Water supplies,contaminated with faecal matter Bacteria present on the cow's udders or on equipment may get into raw milk.

By drinking unpasturised milk,or raw milk in human.

Bacteria in diarrheal stools of infected persons can be passed from one person to another,or from animal to human if hygiene or handwashing habits are inadequate.

The first symptom of E. coli infection, which is characterized by the sudden onset of abdominal pain and severe cramps, followed within 24 hours by diarrhea Massive watery diarrhoea with blood and also vomiting is seen in case of shiga toxin.

In some persons, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. About 2%-7% of infections lead to this complication.
By ingestion of Labile toxin cholera is caused.Action is relatively slower that (ST).

Infection with E. coli O157:H7 is usually confirmed by the detection of the bacteria in a stool specimen from an infected individual. Trace-back & source identification,by making DNA fingerprinting,and matching with the isolates.

Personal hygeine should be maintained in farm and home too. Cross contamination should be avoided in milk chain,&also in kitchen while boiling. Raw milk should not be consumed. Children should not be allowed to share bath water with anyone suffering from diarrhoea or stomach flu.