ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION, ANTIBACTERIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST AND DETECTION OF RESISTANCE GENE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI FROM RAW CATTLE MEAT AT NEKEMTE MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR AND BUTCHER HOUSE IN NEKEMTE TOWN, EAST WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

ADVISOR: BIYANSA ADUNGA (DVM, MPH-VPH, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR)

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli is one of the most zoonotic pathogen causing a disease in animals and foodborne infections in humans have been increasing across the world. Food can be vehicles for transmitting E. coli to humans. Cross-sectional study was conducted from August to December 2023 with the objective of molecular detection and antibiotic susceptibility test of E. coli from raw cattle meat in Nekemte Town, Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 170 samples (50 from abattoir meat and 120 from butcher houses) were collected for bacteriological analysis. Semi structured questionnaire were also used to assess abattoir workers" and butchers" knowledge, attitude and practices on food born infection of E coli. The interviewed workers response result show in the present study low awareness on the foodborne diseases. From total of 170 samples tested 45(26.47%) were positive for O157:H7 E. coli. From 45/170(26.47%) positives, 5/170 (2.9%) were from abattoir and 40/170 (23.5%) were from butcher houses. From abattoir 1/17 (5.9%) and 0/10 (0%) from skin swab and hook swab were positive for O157:H7 E.coli, respectively. From butcher houses 52.50% meat samples and 25.00% of cutting board swab samples and 22.50% of knife swab samples were positive for E. coli. Analysis of conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay in detecting the virulence genes indicated that 9/10 (90%) were positive for virulence genes (Stx1). The isolated E. coli were found to be susceptible (100%) to both Ciprofloxacin (CIP5μg) and Chloramphenicol (C30μg) and (66.7%) to both Nalidixic Acid (NA 30µg) and Tetracycline (T 30µg). The resistant level of E. coli was 100% for AmoxicillinClavulanic acid (AMC 30μg). Finally the higher incidences of the stx1 gene were isolated from butcher houses indicates a risk alert of E. coli 0157 infection to consumers. Therefore, appropriate measures will be needed towards food safety, knowledge gap of butcher shop workers in the area to prevent the spread of this life-threatening food borne disease in the town particularly for those having the habit of eating raw meat. Key words: Abattoir, Butcheries, Cattle Meat, Escherichia coli, Molecular detection, Nekemte and Susceptibility test