Malays. Appl. Biol. (1997) 26(2): 77-81
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND PLASMID PROFILES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN RAW MILK AND BEEF
SON RADU1*, ROZILA, A.1, RUSUL, G.2, ZAINURI, A.2, RAHA, A. R.1 and SAHILAH, A. M.1
1 Department of Biotechnology 2 Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, Universiti Pittra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
A total of 131 strains of Escherichia coli were examined for plasmids and resistance to antimicrobial agents. All (100%) were resistant to three or more of the antibiotics tested, with the most common resistance being against bacitracin (98%), vancomycin (99%) and penicillin (100%). Multiple antibiotic resistance indexing of the Escherichia coli strains isolated from raw milk and beef showed that all (100%) originated from high risk contamination where antibiotics are often used. Plasmids ranging in sizes from 1.4 to 66 megadalton were detected in 44 of 63 (70%) isolates from beef samples and 51 ot 68 (74%) isolates from raw milk samples. These observations may indicate that raw milk and beef may form a reservoii for multiply-resistant and plasmid-containing Escherichia coli.
ABSTRAK
Sejumlah 131 pencilan Escherichia coli telah dikaji untuk kehadiran plasmid and kerintangan kepada agen antimikrob. Kesemua (100%) mempunyai kerintangan kepada tiga atau lebih antibiotik yang diuji, dengan kerintangan kepada basitrasin (98%), vankomisin (99%) dan penisilin (100%) lebih kerap. Indeks kerintangan pelbagai kepada antibiotik pencilan Escherichia coli dari susu mentah dan daging lembu menunjukkan bahawa semua (100%) berasal daripada sumber pencemaran berisiko tinggi di mana antibiotik kerap digunakan. Plasmid bersaiz antara 1.4 hingga 66 megadalton dikesan dalam 44 dari 63 (70%) pencilan daripada daging lembu dan 51 dari 68 (74%) daripada susu mentah. Keputusan ini menunjukkan bahawa susu mentah dan daging lembu boleh menjadi sumber Escherichia coli yang membawa plasmid dan mempunyai kerintangan pelbagai.
Key words: Antibiotic resistance, Escherichia coli, MAR index, plasmid profiles
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