Role of selected abattoirs as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli

Abstract

Abattoirs used by man for the sole aim of slaughtering livestock can also serve as a breeding ground for multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Escherichia coli. The challenges posed by multidrug-resistant E. coli are of a global concern because of the serious health issues they cause, resulting in high morbidity, mortality and negative impact on the economy. This study aimed at the assessment of the role of selected abattoirs as reservoirs of E. coli. From the three hundred (300) samples collected from three selected major abattoirs in Aba, comprising butcher’s knife, butcher’s palm, tables/slabs, effluents, water, soil and animal specimens, only 83 (27.7%) were presumptively identified as E. coli using phenotypic tests. The occurrence of E. coli between the abattoirs was higher in abattoir B (51/172, 29.7%) and lowest in abattoir A (23/93, 24.7%). E. coli isolates were found more in the animal samples (44/119, 37%) than in any other sources from the three abattoirs and lowest in soil (1/21, 4.8%). The isolates exhibited high resistance 81 (97.6%), against the tested antibiotics. Resistant isolates were recorded in abattoir B than the rest of the abattoirs, with isolates from the soil exhibiting 100% (1/1) resistance. MDR isolates were 97.5% (81/83) while non-MDR isolates were 2.5% (2/83). The resistant pattern of the isolates on the tested antibiotics was 24, and the MAR index was > 0.2. This study reports high levels of MDR E. coli isolates from the major abattoirs in Aba metropolis. High MDR isolates were observed from abattoir B as well as from animal sources; however, all soil samples were MDR.