Isolation and Immunological Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia Coli from Human and Animal Sources in Libya

• Ahlaam Amteer

  Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Azzaytuna, Tarhuna, Libya

  Author

• Naeimah Salim

  Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Azzaytuna, Tarhuna, Libya

  Author

Recently, Escherichia coli has become a public health concern worldwide. This is because there has been increasing resistance both among animals and among human beings. The main aim of the present study was to isolate antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli from animal and human sources in Libya. In this research, a cross-sectional design has been adopted, where 100 samples have been collected proportionally from both human and animal sources. The animal samples were meat samples, raw milk samples, and animal excrement. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion test. Also, immunological testing was performed for immunological characterization. Resistance to ampicillin (68.0%), tetracycline (61.0%), and cephalosporins (57.0%) was identified for the isolated bacteria. In particular, it is important to indicate that 63.0% of the isolated bacteria were multidrug-resistant E. coli. It should be noted that 58.0% of the isolated organisms are virulent. Similarity in terms of resistance patterns between humans and animals has been observed.

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