Multidrug resistant enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli serogroups in the faeces of hunted Wildlife, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Vet Ital. 2022 Dec 30;58(2). doi: 10.12834/VetIt.1990.12087.2.

Abstract

Wildlife play significant roles in the dissemination and zoonotic transmission of pathogens. The enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are associated with complicated cases of food-borne illnesses. This study investigated the presence of EHEC serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O145, O91, O111, O128, O121 and O157) in wildlife species: cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus), royal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus), African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus). EHEC and non-EHEC isolates from these wildlife sources were tested for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Overall, 127 (83.0 %) of 153 samples yielded E. coli. Nine (5.9%) samples were positive for EHEC belonging to three serogroups as follows; O26 (n=2), O111 (n=2) and O103 (n=5). The EHEC isolates were from cane rats (n=6) and royal antelope (n=3) and possessed virulence-associated genes stx1 (77.8%), stx2 (100.0%), eaeA (100.0%) and hlyA (100.0%). Overall, 127 E. coli isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (99.2%), ceftiofur (90.6%), tetracycline (90.0%), cephalexin (87.4%), cefotaxime (50.4%), streptomycin 42.5%, ceftazidime (41.7%), nalidixic acid (37.0%), ciprofloxacin (43.6%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (32.3%), gentamicin (27.6%), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (25.2%), norfloxacin (17.3%) and chloramphenicol (11.0%). The roles of wildlife in the dissemination and transmission of antimicrobial resistant and zoonotic bacteria should not be neglected for effective preventive and control strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Antelopes*
  • Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins* / genetics
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Nigeria / epidemiology
  • Serogroup
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli* / genetics

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins