Abstract
The present study was conducted for the period of six months, September, 2016 to February, 2017 so as to isolate and identify Escherichia (E.coli) from fresh fish samples collected from four different retailing shops in Mekelle city and determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of isolated bacteria. Isolation and identification of E.coli and antibiotic sensitivity test were performed following the standard microbiological techniques. The antibiotic resistance patterns of the E.coli isolates were tested against 6 different antibiotics, namely Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Gentamicin and Streptomycin. Accordingly, out of the total 96 fish samples collected and analyzed, 9(9.4%) were positive for E.coli following the primary and secondary biochemical test results. Out of the four fish meat retailing shops, the highest and statistically significant prevalence (P=0.001) of E.coli was recorded in shop III as 5(20.8%) followed by shop II as 4(16.7%).Furthermore, results of the antimicrobial sensitivity test have shown that all of the isolates were completely significantly (P=0.001) resistant to two antibiotics (Ampicillin and Amoxicillin) and 100% significantly susceptible (P=0.001) to three of the antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, and Gentamicin). Whereas, out of the 9 isolates, 2 isolates (22.2%) were intermediate and 7 isolates (77.8%) were susceptible to Streptomycin. Hence, it can be concluded that fishes from Mekelle shops do contain antimicrobial resistant pathogenic E.coli where the proportion of these isolates significantly (P<0.001) varies from shop to shop. In spite of the lesser practice of their utilization, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, and Gentamicin were found to be the best antimicrobials to treat E.coli associated infections in the study area. However, it is suggested that post-harvest hygienic management practices are to be practiced along the fish production-marketing chain.Antibiotic sensitivity test, Escherichia coli, Fish, Mekelle, Retailing shops.
Highlights
Fish and fishery products are generally regarded as high risk commodities in respect of pathogen contents and other possible contaminants
The objective of this study was to isolate E.coli from fish samples sold in retailing shops of Mekelle city and to perform antibiotic sensitivity test on the isolated E.coli
In the current study, out of a total of 96 fish samples collected from four Fish shops which are found in Mekelle city, 9(9.4%) samples were positive for E.coli
Summary
Fish and fishery products are generally regarded as high risk commodities in respect of pathogen contents and other possible contaminants. Biological contaminants such as bacteria constitute the Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science (MEJS),V11(2):229-238,2019 ©CNCS, Mekelle University, ISSN:2220-184X. Awot,T., Tehetna,A., Shishay,A., Belayneh,G., Yohannes,H., Tsegay,T and Netsanet,B(MEJS) V11(2): 229-238, 2019 major cause of food-borne diseases. These products are susceptible to a wide variety of potentially pathogenic bacteria and are major vehicles for transmission of several bacterial diseases (Maysoon, 2014). Escherichiacoli strains, in particular are candidate vehicles for such problem, due to their diversity and because they exist as common micro-flora of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals (Clements et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
