SEASONSAL PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND SALMONELLA ENTERICA ISOLATED FROM RAW MEATS IN BUIPE, GHANA

Abstract

Meat is an important source of proteins and other nutrients for humans and its contamination with bacteria poses a threat to public health. The study was carried out to determine the seasonal prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and salmonella enterica isolated from raw meats. A total of 180 samples, 30 each of beef, chevon and mutton were randomly collected from Buipe in both the dry and rainy seasons. E. coli and Salmonella enterica were isolated using the USA-FDA bacteriological analytical manual and antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the disk diffusion method. E. coli recorded a prevalence of 30.0% for beef, 53.3% for chevon and 63.3% for mutton collected during the dry season; it was 6.7%, 16.6% and 16.6% for beef, chevon and mutton, respectively collected during the rainy season. Overall, 48.9% versus 13.3% of meat samples collected during the dry and rainy season, respectively were contaminated with E. coli. Salmonella enterica recorded a prevalence of 3.3% for beef, 13.3% for chevon and 0.0% for mutton collected during the dry season. Salmonella enterica was not detected during the rainy season. Overall, 5.6% versus 0.0% of meat samples collected during the dry and rainy season, respectively were contaminated with Salmonella enterica. Antibiotic resistance was highest for Amoxicillin (61.5%) in E. coli isolated during the dry season. Susceptibility was high for Azithromycin (84.6%), Ceftriaxone (80.8%), Chloramphenicol (80.8%), Ciprofloxacin (84.6%), Gentamicin (80.8%) and Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (73.1%) in E. coli isolated during the rainy season Antibiotic resistance was also highest for Amoxicillin (91.0%). Susceptibility was high for Ceftriaxone (82.0%), Ciprofloxacin (82.0%) and Gentamicin (82.0%) in E. coli isolated during the rainy season. Multidrug resistance (MAR) index ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 and 13 different resistant profiles were observed for E. coli isolated during the dry season, while MAR index ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 and 10 different resistant profiles were observed for E. coli isolated during the rainy season. The Salmonella enterica exhibited 40.0% intermediate resistance and 60.0% susceptibility to ceftriaxone. They were 100% susceptible to the rest of the antibiotics examined. All meat samples were contaminated with E. coli which were resistant to various antibiotics. Some meat samples were contaminated with Salmonella enterica which were susceptible to most antibiotics. Further research in the molecular characterization of E. coli and Salmonella enterica to reveal their genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence genes is recommended