ABSTRACT
AIMS: To determine the occurrence and proportion of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in faeces, skin swabs and carcasses before and after washing, from sheep and goats in Ethiopia. METHOD AND RESULTS: Individual samples were enriched in modified tryptic soy broth with novobiocin, concentrated using immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and plated onto cefixime-tellurite containing sorbitol MacConkey agar. Presumptive colonies were confirmed by biochemical tests and subjected to latex agglutination tests. A PCR was performed on isolates for the detection of stx(1), stx(2) and eae genes. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was isolated from faeces (4.7%), skin swabs (8.7%) and carcasses before washing (8.1%) and after washing (8.7%) and on water samples (4.2%). The proportion of carcasses contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 was strongly associated with those recovered from faecal and skin samples. Both stx(1) and stx(2) genes were identified from one E. coli O157:H7 isolate from a goat carcass. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the numbers of samples examined in this study were limited to one abattoir, sheep and goats can be potential sources of E. coli O157:H7 for human infection in the country. Control measures to reduce the public health risks arising from E. coli O157:H7 in reservoir animals need to be addressed at abattoir levels by reducing skin and faecal sources and carcass contaminations at different stages of slaughter operations. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Escherichia coli O157:H7 was detected from carcasses before and after washing during slaughtering operations, and one O157 isolate was positive for verotoxins.
Subject(s)
Abattoirs , Escherichia coli O157/isolation & purification , Feces/microbiology , Goats/microbiology , Sheep/microbiology , Skin/microbiology , Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics , Animals , Colony Count, Microbial , Culture Media , Escherichia coli O157/genetics , Escherichia coli O157/pathogenicity , Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics , Ethiopia , Genes, Bacterial , Immunomagnetic Separation , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Shiga Toxin 1/genetics , Shiga Toxin 2/genetics , Water MicrobiologyABSTRACT
Cervical cancer ranks second among all cancers in women world-wide, and the rate of invasive cervical cancer among women under 50 is rising in the United States. Risk factors for abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and invasive cervical cancer include genital tract infections. This study was designed to compare the rates of genital tract infections and the contraceptive choices of a random sample of 800 women, using an ex post facto design. The Pap positive women had a significantly higher rate of genital tract infections than did the Pap negative women but did not differ significantly in use of contraceptive methods. Findings support those of other researchers suggesting genital tract infections as risk factors for abnormal Pap smears and are consistent with the literature in suggesting a role for oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) in acquisition of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Caregivers can help empower women to reduce their risks through informed choices about protection and sexual behaviors.
