Original scientific paper

Multidrug resistant verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the faeces of diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic dogs in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Olufemi E. Ojo ; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Abiola O. Bello ; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Elizabeth A. Amosun ; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Rasheed A. Ajadi ; Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157:H7 is a predominant cause of haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in humans. To assess the role of dogs as a possible source of transmission of VTEC O157:H7 to humans, the faeces of diarrhoeic (31) and non-diarrhoeic (63) dogs were examined for the presence of the organism. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was isolated from 22 (23.4%) out of 94 samples examined. The organism was detected in 5 (16.1%) out of 31 diarrhoeic faeces and 17 (26.9%) out of 63 non-diarrhoeic faeces, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). All the E. coli O157:H7 isolates produced one or both of verocytotoxin 1 and 2 (VT1 and VT2). Verocytotoxin 1 (VT1) was detected in 10 (45.5%) out of 22 isolates, VT2 in 8 (36.4%), while both toxin types were detected in four (18.2%) isolates. Sixteen (72.7%) out of 22 isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobials from different classes, while 18 distinct antimicrobial resistance patterns were observed among the isolates. The isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (86.4%), chloramphenicol (36.4%), ciprofloxacin (4.5%), gentamicin (18.2%), kanamycin (68.2%), nalidixic acid (22.7%), neomycin (40.9%), norfl oxacin (9.1%), streptomycin (63.6%), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (63.6%) and tetracycline (77.3%). The present study showed that diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic dogs may serve as potential sources of multi-drug resistant VTEC O157:H7 transmissible to humans.

Keywords

dogs; E. coli O157:H7; faeces; multi-drug resistance; verocytotoxin

Hrčak ID:

116220

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/116220

Publication date:

13.2.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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