Full Length Research Paper

The incidence and antibiotics susceptibility of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from beef in Ibadan Municipal, Nigeria

Olatoye, Isaac Olufemi

Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

E-mail: olatoyevet@yahoo.com or io.olatoye@mail.ui.edu.ng. Tel: +234 805 7852 655.

Abbreviations: NSF, Non-sorbitol fermenting; HC, hemorrhagic colitis; HUS, hemolytic-uremic syndrome; LGAs, local government authorities.

Accepted 7 January, 2010

   Abstract

The incidence of Escherichia coli 0157: H7 was assessed in meat samples from slaughtered cattle in Ibadan metropolis by culturing on sorbitol MacConkey agar and confirmed using serological agglutination kits. The isolates were tested for susceptibility to seven commonly used antimicrobial agents. Out of the total of the 116 non-sorbitol fermenting (NSF) E. coli isolated from the samples, 71 (comprising of 18.4, 2.0, 3.2 and 4.8% from Bodija abattoir, Bashorun, Apata and Iwo Road slaughter slabs, respectively) were confirmed as E. coli O157:H7 serotype. Antibiotics susceptibility profile showed that all the isolates were resistant to one or multiple antibiotics, resulting in eight different resistance patterns. Tetracycline resistant isolates were the highest with 91.4% incidence. The results are of public health significance confirming cattle as major reservoir of EHEC and antimicrobial-resistant organisms. The high level of carcass contamination with microorganisms may be due to unhygienic slaughtering and meat processing engaged in these abattoir and slabs. Indiscriminate and misuse of antimicrobials on livestock in Nigeria could also be responsible for the multiple resistance pattern of the organism. Application of food hygiene practices such as HACCP is recommended for high quality farm to fork wholesome and safe meat for public consumption in Nigeria.

Key words: EHEC, Escherichia coli, beef, food safety Ibadan, Nigeria.