6Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are considered pathogens of zoonotic importance. Zoo animals have been reported as reservoirs of STEC and many STEC human outbreaks have been linked with zoo animals. Available information about the occurrence of STEC in zoo animals in Pakistan is limited. Therefore, the current study was executed to estimate the occurrence of STEC in zoo animals of two zoos of Rawalpindi and Islamabad cities in Pakistan. Total of 110 faecal samples were collected from 24 species of zoo animals. The samples were analysed for determination of eae, stx1, stx2, and ehxA genes using multiplex PCR. The positive samples for any of these genes were further analysed for isolation using sorbitol MacConkey agar. Out of 110 fecal samples, 15 samples (13.6%) contained targeted virulence genes (stx1, stx2, eae, ehxA). Six different combinations of virulence genes were observed in positive samples. Only two E. coli isolates with targeted virulence genes could be isolated from PCR positive samples. The study indicated that the wild animals maintained in zoos of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are carriers of STEC and may be the source of infection for humans.
