Author(s)

Simon Ikechukwu Enem^1*, Stephen Ike Oboegbulem², Chinwe Elizabeth Okoli¹, Enid Ene Godwin¹

¹Department of Veterinary Public Health & Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
²Department of Veterinary Public Health & Preventive Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

It is reckoned worldwide that verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) serotypes are important food borne pathogens causing severe health problems in humans. A cross sectional epidemiological study was carried out to determine the prevalence of VTEC serotypes (O157 and non O157) in both apparently healthy and diarrhoeic cattle in Abuja, FCT. A total of 718 faecal samples collected from abattoirs and cattle herds from Abuja, FCT representing 381 from apparently healthy and 337 from diarrhoeic cattle were analyzed. Primary isolation of typical E. coli was done using Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar and performing biochemical tests. Samples were further analyzed using Cefixime, Tellurite-Sorbitol McConkey (CT-SMAC) agar to identify sorbitol and non sorbitol fermenting E. coli. Further characterization of both the sorbitol fermenting and non sorbitol fermenting E. coli was done using commercially procured latex agglutination test kits from Oxoid, United Kingdom. The prevalence of VTEC O157 in apparently healthy cattle was 1.84% and 2.96% for diarrhoeic cattle while the prevalence of non O157 VTEC was 3.67% and 7.12% for apparently healthy and diarrhoeic cattle respectively. There was no strong association (p > 0.05) between faecal consistency and infection with VTEC O157. A strong association (p < 0.05) however existed between faecal consistency and infection with non-O157 VTEC. Diarrhoeic cattle appear likely to be more affected. The implication of the study is that individuals in contact with cattle such as veterinarians, abattoir workers and cattle herdsmen are at risk of exposure to VTEC and proper hygienic control measures should be adopted.

Sero-Study, VTEC Serotypes, Apparently Healthy, Diarrhoeic, Cattle

Ikechukwu Enem, S. , Oboegbulem, S. , Elizabeth Okoli, C. and Godwin, E. (2016) A Cross Sectional Sero-Study of Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) Serotypes in Apparently Healthy and Diarrhoeic Cattle in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 6, 89-94. doi: 10.4236/ojvm.2016.66011.