Isolation of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Pig Farms in Northern Côte d’Ivoire: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to the recommended and available antimicrobial drugs is a growing public health problem in different locations worldwide, leading to increased morbidity and mortality in patients. This study was conducted in the Korhogo Department to enhance the understanding of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) in local swine populations. A total of 200 rectal swabs were collected from pigs across four sub-prefectures. Isolation of STEC O157:H7 was performed on a chromogenic selective medium. Subsequently, 62 isolates obtained were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility against nine agents using the standard disk diffusion method. Following analysis, 62 of the 200 samples tested were positive, yielding an overall prevalence of 31%. The study further revealed that, aside from the sampling location, neither sex nor age had a significant effect on the prevalence of this bacterium. Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that 100% of the isolates were sensitive to gentamicin, colistin, and ceftriaxone. Conversely, all isolates exhibited complete (100%) resistance to the six other antibiotics tested. The study confirms a high prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in pig farms, alongside a high level of resistance to commonly used antimicrobials. Further research is needed to better understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of this zoonotic agent.