Detection of toxin genes and antibiogram pattern in Escherichia coli isolates from sheep meat on Indian market

Isolates (49) of escherichia coli were isolated from 100 samples of mutton collected from dressed sheep carcasses by excision method. The isolates were typed into 12 different ‘O’ serogroups. The most frequent serovar isolated was O101, followed by O152, O76, O23, O139, O88, O110, O126, O8, O9, O15 and O133; two isolates were untypable while one was rough. All the isolates of escherichia coli were screened for the presence of VT1, VT2, LT and ST genes by PCR and in vitro antibiotic resistance pattern. Nine (60.0%) and six (40.0%) isolates were found positive for VT1 and VT2 genes, respectively. Five (33.33%) were found positive for both the VT1 and VT2 genes. Four (26.67%) isolates were positive for LT gene, whereas only one (6.67%) isolate was found positive for ST gene. The percentage of isolates resistant to antibacterial agents was recorded as follows: sulphadiazine (93.33%), cephaloridine (80.00%), cephalexin (33.33%), penicillin G, ceftiofur and norfloxacin, carbenicillin and enrofloxacin (26.67% each), and oxytetracycline and amoxycillin (20.00% each).