Characterization of E.coli isolated from sheep and goats suffering from digestive disturbance in East Libya

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate some virulence factors of E. coli from diarrheic sheep and goats. This aim was achieved by determining the following points 1) Incidence of E. coli from rectal swabs collected from diarrheic sheep and goats 2) Correlation between E. coli isolates with regards to age 3) Haemolytic activity of E. coli isolates 4) Serotyping of the pathogenic E. coli 5) Detection of enterotoxin, astA and verotoxin genes of E. coli isolates using Polymerase chain reaction and 6) Antibiogram to the E. coli isolates.

E. coli was isolated at highest percentage from diarrheic sheep at age ranged from 1 to 6 month, highest percentage from diarrheic sheep and goats aged from 7 to 12 month.

E. coli isolated from diarrheic sheep gave alpha, beta and gamma hemolysis at percentage of 66.7 %, 18.2 % and 15.1%, respectively. Moreover, E. coli isolated from diarrheic goats gave alpha, beta and gamma hemolysis at percentage of 55%, 30'?'o and 15 %, respectively.

Results of Congo red test revealed that 90.9 % of E .coli isolated from diarrheic sheep and 90% isolated from goats gave positive results.

The results presented in table (1 0) revealed that serotype 026 was the most E. coli serotype (31.4% ) that gave a positive Congo red followed by E. coli serotype 078 (22.9%) and E. coli serotype 086 (17.1%).

The results of antibiotic sensitivity of E. coli to chemotherapy revealed that it was sensitive to levofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. On the other hand E. coli was resistant to colistin and neomycin.