ISOLATION OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI FROM ABATTOIR IN OWERRI WEST LGA IMO STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigates the presence and isolation of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) from animal carcasses at an abattoir in Owerri, Nigeria. EPEC is a significant pathogen, known for its role in causing gastroenteritis, particularly in children. Samples were collected from various points in the abattoir, including animal hides, surfaces, and processing equipment. Standard microbiological techniques were employed for the isolation and identification of E. coli strains. Despite the rigorous sampling and analytical procedures, no EPEC strains were isolated from the collected samples. This unexpected finding raises critical questions regarding the prevalence of this enteropathogen in the local food supply chain and highlights the need for further investigation into other potential sources and the overall microbial safety at abattoirs. The results suggest that while EPEC may not be present in this specific environment, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure public health and prevent foodborne illnesses. This research underscores the importance of stringent hygiene practices and microbial surveillance in meat processing facilities.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.