Epidemiology of Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (Vtec) Non O157 Serotypes in Cattle in Abuja, Nigeria

The most frequently implicated E. coli serotype causing haemorrhagic colitis and haemorrhagicuraemic syndrome (HUS) is VTEC 0157. However, non O157 VTEC is now known to be as prevalent as VETC O157 infection (or even more) in most parts of the world. The objective of the study was to establish the occurrence of non O157 VTEC serotypes in cattle in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria. The level of significance of the infection with sex, age and season were also tested. The research work took place at Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Abuja lies between 6o 45and 7o 45East of the Greenwich meridian and 8o and 9o.25North of the Equator. The cross sectional epidemiological method and multi staged sampling technique were used in this study. Samples were collected from the freshly voided faeces of both apparently healthy and diarrhoeic cattle in selected abattoirs and cattle herds. Enriched samples were analyzed bacteriologically and biochemically after which they were characterised using commercially prepared latex agglutination test kits. A total of 718 faecal samples from cattle were analyzed for the presence of VTEC non O157. Thirty eight (5.23 %) were positive for non O157. No significant difference (p greater than 0.05) existed between O157 VTEC infection and sex of the cattle. A significant difference was found between age and infection with non O157 cattle. More calves were associated than the adult cattle. There was also a significant association (P less than 0.05) between season and infection with non - O157VTEC in cattle. Infection occurred more in the dry season. The study established the occurrence and prevalence of non O157VTEC in cattle in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. As a major food animal in Nigeria, infection in cattle provides an epidemiological causal association to the infection in humans. The result showed that warmer seasons (dry season) stimulate the presence of VTEC infection in animals and thus, as a consequence, increases the number of human cases. The prevalence was also higher in younger calves (less than 6 months) probably as a result of undeveloped immune system.