“…In China, various studies have shown STEC contaminations in raw meats ( Bai et al, 2015 ; Chao et al, 2007 ; Dong et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2011 ; Zhou et al, 2002 ). Of note, a recent study reported multidrug resistant STEC strains with high pathogenic potential from retail beef in China ( Hu et al, 2021 ), this knowledge is limited for mutton-derived strains. The objective of this study was to depict the prevalence, genomic and antimicrobial characteristics of STEC strains in retail raw meats with a particular interest on mutton in Jinan, Shandong, China, and to assess their pathogenic potential.…”