Characterization of Enteropathogenic E. Coli and Antibiotic Resistance Properties in Diarrheic Pets

The study was carried out to detect and characterize Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic dogs and cats and its antibiotic resistance. To perform this aim :a total of 90 rectal swabs were collected from diarrheic dogs (n= 70) and cats (n= 20) from different localities at Alexandria and screened for the presence of pathotypes of E.coli using culture, biochemically, serological , molecular identification and antibiotic sensitivity test.a total of 33 (36.6%) E. coli isolated and identified {26 isolates from dogs (37.1%) and 7 isolates from cats (35%)}. Hemolytic activity revealed 8 (6 from dogs and 2 from cats) and 4 (3 from dogs and 1 from cats) isolates with Alpha (α) and Beta (β) hemolysis respectively. Serotyping of these 12 isolates revealed 2 (16.6%) were positive poly 2 (O:127 K63 ), 1 (8% ) isolate was positive poly 3 ( O:164 K-) , 1 (8%) isolate was positive poly 1 (O:26 k 60) and 8 (66.6%) isolates were serotyped as positive poly one. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) revealed the presence of attaching and effacing gene (eaeA ) in 4 (33.3%) isolates {3 from dogs (33.3%) and 1 from cat (33.3%). However, none of the isolates were positive for Heat-labile (LT) , heat-stable (STa) enterotoxin genes, shiga toxin one (Stx1) and shiga toxin two (Stx2) genes and bundle-forming pili (Bfp) gene. The highest rate of senstivity was observed to Amikacin and Ofloxacin. And, the highest rate of resistance was observed to Cephalexin and Ampicillin sulbactam.