Prevalence, antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli O157 in local versus imported meat in Thi-Qar province, Iraq: A comparative study | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 19 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.414026.3108 | ||
| Author | ||
| Muslim Dhahr Musa* | ||
| Community Health Department, Al-Nasiriyah Technical Institute, Southern Technical University, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Imported meat might be a probable source of E. coli O157, particularly in developing countries. Aim: Comparing the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli O157 in local and imported raw meat to reveal the role of imported meat in spreading this pathotype in Thi-Qar province. Methods: A total of 132 raw meat samples of beef, sheep, and chicken (local and imported) were collected from retail markets and butcheries during a 12-month period in Thi-Qar province. Traditional bacteriological and biochemical methods were used to isolate and identify E. coli. E. coli O157 isolates were identified phenotypically using STEC CHROMagar and O157 CHROMagar. An antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted using the disc-diffusion method. Results: E. coli and E. coli O157 prevalence were 42.4% and 5.3% respectively. The prevalence of E. coli and E. coli O157 was higher in imported meat, 48.5% and 7.6% than in local meat, 36.4% and 3%; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). All (100%) E. coli O157 (local and imported) were multidrug-resistant; however, imported isolates showed a high resistance rate against ceftriaxone (80%), cefepime(80%), gentamicin(60%), and levofloxacin (40%), compared to the local isolates, which were 100% susceptible to these antibiotics. Additionally, two isolates from imported beef were extensively drug-resistant. MDRI of imported isolates was higher than that of local isolates, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: imported meat constitutes an important multi-drug-resistant E. coli O157 source, and an appropriate food safety assurance system should be applied to Thi-Qar markets. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| E. coli O157; Meat; Antibiotic resistance; Iraq | ||
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