TITLE:
Burden of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli in Pigs Slaughtered in Uganda and Its Implication on Veterinary Public Health
AUTHORS:
Phiona Katushabe, Benedicto Byamukama, Joseph Byaruhanga
KEYWORDS:
Escherichia coli, Antimicrobial Resistance, Pigs, Abattoir, Pork, Practices
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.12 No.12,
December
14,
2022
ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance by bacteria and other microbes has become a global public and animal health threat. In this cross-sectional study, assessed the abattoir workers’ practices regarding pork handling and we investigated antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli isolated from pigs brought for slaughter at Wambizzi, Uganda’s main pig abattoir. Rectal swabs were collected from a total of 176 live pigs prior to slaughter. Additionally, 24 swabs were taken from the abattoir floor environment. The collected swabs were cultured for the detection and isolation of E. coli followed by antibiotic susceptibility tests. Regarding pork handling practices, absence of hand washing facilities was observed and none of the workers cleaned/disinfected their equipment between slaughters while slaughters took place on the unhygienic floors of the inspection room. Overall, high prevalence (85.1%) of multi-drug resistant E. coli was detected in pigs received from all the regions of Uganda. Swine E. coli isolates exhibited high resistance against erythromycin (87.4%) and the least resistance against ciprofloxacin at 2.3%. At regional level, E. coli isolates from the central region of Uganda showed higher prevalence of multidrug resistant E. coli isolates as follows; amoxicillin (30.4%, p-value = 0.007), erythromycin (34.8%, p-value = 0.002), streptomycin (40.7%), ciprofloxacin (100%), oxytetracycline (31%) and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (42.9%). Furthermore, multidrug-resistant E. coli was also confirmed in the immediate environment where pigs were gathered and slaughtered. From these environmental isolates, the highest resistance was confirmed against erythromycin (100%), whereas no isolates showed resistance against ciprofloxacin. The observed practices coupled with the presence of multidrug-resistant E. coli in the slaughterhouses presents a possible risk of pork contamination with multidrug-resistant E. coli presenting a potential risk of causing foodborne illnesses among pork consumers in Uganda. The current findings could justify active surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among food animals and provides basis for monitoring the quality of pork products to ensure food safety.