EN
Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) can cause various diseases, from non-bloody diarrhoea, through haemorrhagic colitis, to haemolytic uraemic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopanic purpura in humans, especially in young children and the elderly. Ruminants, particularly cattle, are the main natural reservoir for VTEC. These animals are asymptomatic carriers and excretors of this pathogen and visually are indistinguishable from uninfected animals. Outbreaks of VTEC infection in humans are associated mainly with the consumption of contaminated food. There is evidence that raw cow milk can be one of these sources of infection. Contamination of milk can occur during the milking process or after pasteurization due to poor hygiene practices. It has also been found that some strains of VTEC can survive during the cheese making process and cheeses manufactured from contaminated milk can be responsible for disease in humans. This review article discusses the problem of food-borne infections caused by milk and milk products contaminated with VTEC.