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

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 antimicrobialresistant
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.