Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Producing Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Strain O157:H7 from Cattle and Humans in Moshi, Northern Tanzania
Reuben S. Mkala
Faculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P.O.Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania and Department of Clinical Laboratory, Singida Regional Referral Hospital, P.O.Box 104, Singida, Tanzania
Kaunara A. Azizi *
Department of Food Sciences, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, P.O.Box 977, Tanzania
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: We aimed to determine the prevalence and drug resistance patterns of ESBL producing Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strain O157:H7 (EHEC O157:H7) isolated from cattle and humans in Moshi, northern Tanzania.
Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was carried out to enroll 200 cattle recto-fecal specimens and 107 human stool specimens in Moshi, northern Tanzania. A convenient sampling method was used to enroll human patients with diarrhea or abdominal complaints and rectal fecal specimens from cattle upon consenting a patient, guardian or owner of the cattle. Bacterial isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed based on the standard operating procedures (SOPs). The EHEC O157:H7 were phenotypically confirmed by using MacConkey agar with sorbitol (SMCA) whereas, the suspected ESBL producing strains of EHEC O157:H7 were further confirmed by using the Minimum inhibitory concentration (M. I. C.) Test Strip.
Results: About 20 (10.0%) out of 200 recto-fecal specimens collected from cattle were positively confirmed ESBL producing EHEC O157:H7, whereas 10 (9.30%) out of 107 human specimens were confirmed ESBL producing EHEC O157:H7 (Χ2=0.961, P= 0.002). Twelve (6.0%) of the cattle specimens were ESBL producing non-EHEC O157:H7 whereas 21 (19.6%) of human specimens confirmed as ESBL producing non-EHEC O157:H7. A high number of non-EHEC O157:H7 isolates was found in male 13 (20.3%) than in females 8(18.6%) (OR= 1.506, 95% CI= 0.534-4.236). Both cattle (n=20) and human (n=10) isolates revealed high (100%) resistance against Trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole and Tetracycline.
Conclusion: Our study revealed that ESBL producing E. coli is common among human patients as well as cattle in Moshi, Tanzania. The study is supporting ‘ONE HEALTH’ approach which ensure a sustainable control and reduction of transmission and spread of drug resistant bacteria in humans and cattle.
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, beta-lactamase, extended spectrum, Escherichia coli O157:H7