A Novel Report on the Prevalence of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli non-O157 Isolated from Cattle in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to investigate the presence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) of cattle that may pose a risk to human beings. Two hundred and forty (240) faecal samples were obtained from 8 randomly selected commercial cattle farms in Kaduna state, Nigeria. E. coli colonies from 76 (31.2 %) faecal samples were confirmed by Gram staining reactions and biochemically using indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer and citrate (IMViC), triple sugar iron and motility tests respectively. Characterization of the isolates revealed three heterogeneous serogroups (O111, O118 and O126) fromapparently healthy cattle, while no E. coli serogroup was isolated from diarrhoeic cattle. The prevalence of non-O157 isolates was 4.5 %. Association between the serogroups and source of samples (farms) was significant (P 0.05). The O126 serogroup isolated from apparently healthy cattle occurred more frequently, followed by O118 and O111 respectively. Although it is not known whether the presence of EHEC subgroups in apparently healthy cattle in the study areas may pose a health threat, it is safe to assume that the human population in these areas, including cattle rearers and veterinarians, is at risk of exposure to the EHEC subgroups reported in the study. Data from the study possibly suggest cattle as important source of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli in Kaduna State, Nigeria