| Summary: | Background: Diarrheagenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) is a zoonotic pathogen that contaminates abattoir workers, slaughter environments, slaughter equipment, and carcasses during abattoir processing. Infection with <i>E. coli</i> is associated with the consumption of contaminated food and water, and it is a potential threat to the health and welfare of both humans and animals. Hence, this study aimed to detect diarrheagenic <i>E. coli</i> and assess its antibiogram profile in two abattoir settings, in one health lens.
Methods: A cross-sectional study in one health approach was conducted from December 2020 to June 2021. A total of 384 samples from abattoir workers’ hands, carcasses, knives, cattle feces, abattoir water and effluents were collected. Bacterial culture and biochemical tests were conducted to isolate <i>E. coli</i>, while conventional polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify virulence genes. The antibiogram of diarrheagenic <i>E. coli</i> was tested against nine antimicrobials using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method.
Results: A total of 115 (29.95%) <i>E. coli</i> were isolated from the 384 samples, and from these isolates, about 17 (14.8%) were confirmed to be diarrheagenic <i>E. coli</i> (DEC). Among the DEC pathotypes, nine (52.94%), five (29.4%), and three (17.65%) were Shiga toxin-producing, enterohemorrhagic, and enterotoxigenic <i>E. coli</i>, respectively. While 14 (82.35%) DEC isolates harbored the <i>stx2</i>gene, five (29.41%) the <i>eae</i> gene, five (29.41%) the <i>hlyA</i> gene and three (17.65%) harbored the <i>st</i> gene. All the DEC isolates were resistant to erythromycin and vancomycin; whereas, they were susceptible to ampicillin, nalidixic acid and norfloxacin. Furthermore, 64.7% of DEC isolates showed resistance to both ceftazidime and kanamycin and 88.24% of the isolates showed multidrug resistance.
Conclusion: This study detected DEC isolates having different virulence genes, which showed single and multiple antimicrobial resistance. Given the existing poor hygienic and sanitary practices along the abattoir-to-table food chain, coupled with the habit of raw meat consumption, this result indicates a potential public and animal health risk from the pathogen and antimicrobial resistance.
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