ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM MILK, BEEF AND CHICKEN MEAT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Food-borne pathogens causing infections and intoxications can affect everyone. Escherichia (E) coli is one of the major food borne bacterial pathogens. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of E. coli in milk, chicken meat and beef and to determine the multi-drug resistance profile of E. coli in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. A total of 169 samples including milk (n=108), chicken meat (n=51) and beef (n=10) were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) dairy farm, American dairy farm, Gazipur and retail markets of municipal area during July 2016 to June 2017. E. coli were isolated and identified by  colony characteristics on selective agar like Eosine-methylene blue (EMB) agar, Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar, Gram staining, biochemical test and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The overall prevalence of E. coli in all food samples was 37.86%. A total of 32 (29.63%) milk, 25 (49.02%) chicken meat and 07 (70%) beef samples were E. coli positive through conventional method. Among 64 samples only 23 samples (35.94%) were confirmed by PCR. Multi-drug resistant E. coli were detected by disc diffusion test using 10 commonly used antibiotics. Antibiogram study showed that E. coli isolated from chicken meat were resistant to oxytetracycline (92%), sulphonamide-trimethoprim (84%), amoxycillin (76%) and erythromycin (60%). E. coli isolated from beef sample were resistant to erythromycin (85.71%) and oxytetracycline (71.43%) and sensitive to ciprofloxacin (100%), gentamicin (100%) and neomycin (100%). However, all isolates of E. coli were found sensitive to amikacin (100%). E. coli isolated from milk sample were 100% sensitive to gentamicin followed by neomycin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, oxytetracycline and erythromycin. Overall 50% of E. coli isolates of food were found multi-drug resistant. About 28.13%, 57.14% and 76% of the E. coli isolates originated from milk, beef and chicken meat respectively were multi-drug resistant. The higher prevalence of E. coli in chicken meat, beef and milk indicates unhygienic production and processing of these foods. Presence of multi-drug resistant E. coli in these foods might pose serious public health threats. The antibiogram profile of the isolates will help therapeutic decision making in the treatment of colibacillosis in cattle and poultry in Bangladesh.