Abstract

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This study highlighted the antibiotic susceptibility and the emergence of multidrug resistance plasmids among Escherichia coli in abattoir wastewater in Bauchi state Nigeria. Isolation and characterization of E. coli was conducted from 150 samples using standard procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and plasmid curing were done on the strains. Of these samples screened only 18 (12%) E. coli were recovered. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed high resistance to Augmentin (77.7%) with a clear diameter of inhibition ranging between 8.0±0.0 – 17.3±1.4 mm, followed by amoxicillin (8.0±0.0 – 17.3±1.4) mm, streptomycin (8.0±00 – 10.0±2.6) mm and septrin (8.0±0.0 – 10.3±0.3) mm, with 61.1%, each, and gentamicin (8.0±0.0 – 17.3±0.0) mm and chloramphenicol (8.0±0.0 – 11.0±2.0) mm, each with 55.5% respectively. Ciprofloxacin (18.0±0.0 - 40.0±0.5) mm, was the most potent with 83.3% activity. Multiple antibiotic resistance was examined in 12 (66.6%) of the isolates. After curing, antibiotic susceptibility testing most of the isolates were observed to harbor plasmid-mediated resistance. This study has revealed the emergence of multidrug plasmids mediated resistance among Escherichia coli in abattoir wastewater in Bauchi State Nigeria.

Keywords: Abattoir, Escherichia coli, Plasmid, Resistance, Waste water