EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ASSESSMENT OF CRITICAL CONTROL POINTS OF E. COLI O157:H7 ALONG DAIRY SUPPLY CHAINS IN CENTRAL ETHIOPIA
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Date
2018-06
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Abstract
A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2017 to May 2018 to assess the handling and hygienic practices of milk and to determine the epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance pattern and critical control points of E. coli O157:H7 along the dairy supply chains in Akaki Kality sub-city of Addis Ababa, Bishoftu and Sululta towns of central Ethiopia. Accordingly, a total of 91 owners of dairy farms, milk collection centers and cafeterias were participated in survey study and interviewed using structured questionnaire. The result indicated that, 13.8% of the producers in the study areas did not manage hygienic practices of udder and hand washing before and after milking. Also, 57.7% of cafeterias in the study areas used well water sources for routine sanitation practices. However, a total of 450 raw cow milk (294), milker hand swab (65) and water (91) samples were collected from dairy farms, milk collection centers and cafeterias and processed according to the standards in order to isolate and identify E. coli O157:H7. Out of the total 450 samples examined, 6.0% were contaminated by E. coli O157:H7. Accordingly, 9.89% of water, 9.23% of milker hand swab and 4.08% of raw milk samples were contaminated by the pathogen. Furthermore, the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 was 7.79%, 6.21% and 3.97% in Akaki kality sub-city, Sululta and Bishoftu towns, respectively. The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that there was statistically significant difference observed (p < 0.05) between the occurrence of the pathogen in the milk and water samples, and the sources of water used. The study also revealed that, varying level of resistance of E. coli O157:H7 isolates against nine antimicrobial discs tested and 100% (n = 27) of the isolates showed multidrug-resistance comprising from two up to seven antimicrobial drugs. The assessment of critical control point result also revealed that, the pathogen was also isolated from dairy farm and cafeterias in the study areas. In conclusion, this study has clearly indicated that, there is poor milk handling practices, the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 and its multiple drug resistant profiles in milk samples along the dairy supply chains and its risk for public health and food safety. Therefore, proper hygienic practices from dairy farms to fork and rational drug usage are recommended.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture of Addis Ababa University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science in Veterinary Epidemiology
Keywords
Antimicrobial Resistance, Critical Control Points, Escherichia coli O157:H7