Article ID: JJID.2018.538
Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is regarded as not only a problem to dairy producers worldwide but also a threat to human health due to the potential bacterial contamination of milk and dairy products, particularly those made from raw milk. In this study, E. coli were isolated from fourteen (9.3%) SCM milk samples. The isolated E. coli (n=14) were serotyped, their potential pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistances (AMRs) were investigated. Serotyping results showed that the E. coli isolates belonged to the O55:H7 (n=2), O111:H4 (n=2), O127:H6 (n=2), O128:HUN (n=2), O26:HUN (n=1), O44:H18 (n=1), O114:H21 (n=1), O86:HUN (n=1), O124:HUN (n=1) and O127:H7 (n=1) serogroups. Potential pathogenicity was detected in 93% (13/14) of the isolates. In particular, thirteen isolates possessed at least one of the examined virulence genes. Ten isolates (71%) exhibited AMR to at least one of the tested antimicrobials, 4 (40%) of them were- multidrug-resistant and one isolates showed ESBL production. The obtained results indicate that SCM acts as a source for the spread of potentially pathogenic E. coli strains that are resistant to many groups of antibiotics which may constitute a hazard for both public and animal health.
