MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC E. COLI (EPEC) AND SHIGA-TOXIN PRODUCING E. COLI (STEC) FROM DOMESTIC ANIMALS: PREVALENCE, VIRULENCE, COLONIZATION FACTORS AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

Abstract

To ascertain the presence and molecular characterization of enteropathogenic and Shiga toxin E. coli, 200 fecal samples were collected from rabbits (24), slaughtered pigs (22), calves (39), poultry (41), dogs (38), sheep and goats (36). All the 200 isolates were screened using m-PCR for the presence of the eae, stx1, and stx2 genes. Additionally, the confirmed EPEC isolates were screened concerning their virulence factors (bfpA, astA and ecpA genes) and serogroup by PCR and antibiotic resistance. Of the 200 samples, 38 (19.00%) and 28 (14.0%) were found to be STEC and EPEC, respectively. It was discovered that 11 (30.55%), 12 (33.33%) isolates from sheep and 17 (43.58%), 5 (12.82%), isolates from calves, respectively, were STEC and EPEC 6 (25.0%), 10 (45.45%), and 5 (13.15%) isolates were found to be EPEC in rabbits, pigs, and dogs, respectively. The two most common EPEC serogroups were O118 (18.41%) and O88 (36.84%). Of the 38 EPEC isolates, 100% carried the ecpA gene, while 18 isolates (47.36%) took the astA gene. Among 38 EPEC isolates, only 5 (13.15%) dogs were found to have the bfpA gene, making them typical EPEC, while 33 (86.84%) isolates were classified as atypical EPEC. Thirtyeight EPEC isolates were tested for antibiotic sensitivity, and the results indicated that they were resistant to ciprofloxacin (13.15%), kanamycin (42.10%), streptomycin (42.10%), doxycycline hydrochloride (28.94%), and nalidixic acid (55.26%).

Keywords

• epec
• stec
• bfpa
• asta
• ecpa
• m-pcr