Abstract
E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens. The aim of this study was to isolate E. coli O157:H7, determine virulence genes carried by the organism, and assess the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates from beef carcass samples at Bahir Dar city. Swab samples (n = 280) were collected from the carcass of cattle slaughtered at the abattoir and processed using sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime telluride and confirmed with latex agglutination test. A polymerase chain reaction was performed on isolates for the detection of virulence genes stx1, stx2, hlyA, and eae. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Of 280 samples processed, 25 (8.9%) isolates were positive. Out of 25 isolates subjected for molecular detection, 8 (32%) and 14 (56%) isolates possessed stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively; from those, 5 (20%) isolates had both genes for the production of Shiga toxins. Compared from other virulent genes relatively higher proportion of 18 (72%) isolates carried the hlyA gene. Only 5 (2%) isolates were positive for eae. Resistance was detected in all 25 (100%) isolates and 3 (12%) against clindamycin and trimethoprim, respectively. This study result highlights the potential threat to public health. The abattoir workers need to be aware about the pathogen and should follow appropriate practices to prevent contamination of meat intended for human consumption.
Highlights
Foodborne pathogens are one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. ey exert heavy burden costing billions of dollars in medical care, social costs, and overall economic and infrastructure effects of countries [1,2,3]
Among the pathogenic E. coli strains, enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most virulent foodborne strains which is the leading cause of hemorrhagic colitis (HC), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in human beings. ese illnesses may lead to death due to improper absorption of nutrients and destruction of certain tissues in the target organs [5, 6]. e ability to produce one or more Shiga toxins is a hallmark of E. coli O157:H7 infection [7]
Isolation and Identification of E. coli O157:H7. e frequency of isolation of E. coli O157:H7 in swab samples taken from the carcass in this study was 8.9%. is result was in agreement with other reports in different countries with 8% in Debre Zeyit and Modjo [21] and 8.1% in Modjo, Ethiopia [12], and 9.3% in Jimma [40], but these data indicated high frequency of occurrence relative to reports from Haramaya University (2.2%) and Dire Dawa slaughterhouses (4%) [2] and swab samples taken from the carcass in the Hawassa municipal abattoir (2.7%) [19], Modjo (4.17%) [20], China (2.7%) [41], and Egypt (3.1%) [42]
Summary
Foodborne pathogens are one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. ey exert heavy burden costing billions of dollars in medical care, social costs, and overall economic and infrastructure effects of countries [1,2,3]. Foodborne pathogens are one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. Developing countries including Ethiopia are more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses mainly due to the lack of awareness regarding safe and hygienic food practices [4]. About 2 million people die per year due to diseases of foodborne pathogens in developing countries including Ethiopia [2, 4]. Among the pathogenic E. coli strains, enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most virulent foodborne strains which is the leading cause of hemorrhagic colitis (HC), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in human beings. Enterohemolysin [9] and intimin [10], encoded by hlyA and eae genes, respectively, are another form of virulence factors of the bacteria [7]
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