Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Bowling Green, Kentucky » Food Animal Environmental Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360333

Research Project: Developing Safe, Efficient and Environmentally Sound Management Practices for the Use of Animal Manure

Location: Food Animal Environmental Systems Research

Title: Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and non-typhoid Salmonella in milk and feces of lactating dairy cows and camels in Borana, Southern Ethiopia

Author
item HUNDUMA, DIRIBA - Arsi University
item ALONSO, SILVIA - International Livestock Research Institute Ethiopia
item Agga, Getahun
item KERRO DEGO, OUDESSA - University Of Tennessee
item WIELAND, BARBARA - International Livestock Research Institute Ethiopia
item DESTA, HIWOT - International Livestock Research Institute Ethiopia
item GRACE, DELIA - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) - Kenya
item AMENU, KEBEDE - Addis Ababa University

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2019
Publication Date: 7/23/2019
Citation: Hunduma, D., Alonso, S., Agga, G.E., Kerro Dego, O., Wieland, B., Desta, H., Grace, D., Amenu, K. 2019. Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and non-typhoid Salmonella in milk and feces of lactating dairy cows and camels in Borana, Southern Ethiopia. International Association for Food Protection. Poster No. P2-249.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Purpose: A study was conducted to assess the occurrence and determine antimicrobial resistance profiles of the two pathogens in milk and feces of lactating dairy cows and camels raised under extensive pastoral animal husbandry systems. Methods: We collected a total of 484 milk and fecal samples (150 samples each from cow milk and feces and 92 samples each from camel milk and feces) and were analyzed for the pathogens using bacteriological culture (immunomagnetic separation beads) and further identified using biochemical tests. Results: In cattle, E. coli O157: H7 was detected from 4.7% of both milk and feces and non-typhoid Salmonella from 4.0% and 8.6% of milk and feces, respectively. In camels, 3.3% of fecal samples were positive for E. coli O157: H7 and all milk samples were negative. For non-typhoid Salmonella spp., 1.1% and 2.1% of milk and fecal samples from camels were positive, respectively. All isolates of both pathogens were found susceptible to nalidixic acid, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin but resistant for ampicillin. In cattle samples, 92.8% of E. coli O157: H7 and 15.8% of Salmonella isolates showed resistance to multiple antimicrobials. Inversely, none of E. coli O157: H7 isolates were resistant while two of the three (66.7%) Salmonella isolates showed multiple antimicrobial resistance patterns. Significance: Considerable proportions of milk samples, especially from cattle, were positive for drug-resistant pathogens and this could be a significant public health risk. This warrants the setting up of intervention programs to reduce the potential milk-borne transmission (e.g. by promoting boiling milk before consumption) and also targeted education on the prudent use of antimicrobials.