This study aimed to determine the incidence of E. coli in raw milk and
cheese, in addition to isolate and identify Enterotoxigenic E. coli. The
existence of heat stable toxin (STh) and heat labile toxin (LT) genes were
determined in the isolated strains. This study included 350 samples of raw
milk and cheese samples. Different media were used to isolate E. coli and
different biochemical tests were used for identification. E. coli was detected
in 61.4% of samples. They were tested for the presence of STh and LT
genes by PCR. ETEC was detected in 3.7% of E. coli isolates. Only one
strain from milk of street samples that found to harbor STh gene. Seven
strains were detected in Kareish cheese including two strains harbor LT
gene and five strains harbor STh gene.