P1-54 Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Recovered from Pig and Cattle Slaughterhouses

Monday, August 1, 2016
America's Center - St. Louis
Jin-Hyeok Yim, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea, The Republic of
Dong-Hyeon Kim, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea, The Republic of
Hong-Seok Kim, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea, The Republic of
Kun-Ho Seo, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea, The Republic of
Introduction: Pathogenic Escherichia coli (PEC) was considered important food-borne pathogens, and recognized as a significant public health problem. In most case, contaminated animal products may be responsible for PEC infections in humans. The animal carrying and shedding PEC and other pathogenic microorganisms in slaughterhouses is the main source of contamination.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation rate of pathogenic Escherichia coli from pig and cattle slaughterhouses.

Methods: The PEC was determined in pig carcasses (n = 245), cattle carcasses (n = 210), pig carcasses chilling room (n = 98), and cattle carcasses chilling room (n = 84), collected from 50 slaughterhouses in South Korea. In order to detect a virulence factor, we selected the target genes: stx1 and stx2 for STEC; eaeA for EPEC; ipaH for EIEC; elt, estp, and esth for ETEC; aggR for EAEC. The antibiotic susceptibility of PEC isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method according to NCCLS

Results: A total of 14 PEC isolates were isolated from 12 slaughterhouses; 2 of 245 of pig carcasses (0.82%), 8 of 210 of cattle carcasses (3.81%), 2 of 98 of pig carcasses chilling room samples (2.04%), and 2 of 84 of cattle carcasses chilling room samples (2.38%). Virulence genes of at least one PEC pathogroup was detected in 14 (2.20%) of the 637 samples, with 7 (1.10%) being positive for virulence genes of STEC, 6 (0.94%) of EPEC and 1(0.16%) of ETEC. The antibiotic resistance observed was with tetracycline, streptomycin and chloramphenicol (14.29%) followed by ciprofloxacin (7.14%).

Significance: Pig and cattle carcasses and their storage condition should be monitored to prevent pathogenic Escherichia coli. The origin of infected slaughter animals should be identified and direct and cross-contamination of carcasses should be avoided by adhering to HACCP principles in association with good hygiene procedures (GHP).