PREVALENCE OF Escherichia coli PATHOTYPES IN FAECES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

One hundred and sixty–four feacal samples from six different kinds of animals (chickens, cow, pigs, goats, cats dogs) were examined for enterotoxin producing Escherichia coli Enetrohaemorhagic strain 0157:H7, using Suckling mouse assay, ligated rabbit illeal loop assay 0157:H7 antiserum respectively. A total 90(54.9%) strains isolated. EHEC was not detected, but 6(6.7%) isolates found positive heat-stable enterotoxins (ST) 5(5.6%) heat- labile (LT). The tested susceptibility to 10 antibiotics the disc diffusion method. Gentamycin appeared be most active antibiotic as only 5.5% resistant it, while penicillin least effective with 84.4% it. All showed multiple resistance at 7 antibiotics. Many screened had which however Enteropathogenic