Novel R-Plasmid from E. coli Isolated from Diarrheic Patients-Mediated Resistance to the Fluoroquinolones and other Antibiotics in Benin City Nigeria
Oronsaye, F. E. (MLS, MSC, DD, PhD)
Department of Medical Laboratory Science,
University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City
E-mail: sayfrankon@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Diarrhoea disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries especially among children especially infants three years and below. Moreover, Escherichia coli has been incriminated as cause of diarrhoea. This organism has been known as a normal biotype in the gut of humans and animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the involvement of this organism as cause of diarrhoea. And to screen the resistant strains so isolated for the presence of transferable conjugative R-Plasmid DNA. Three hundred stool samples were collected from patients in various hospitals in Benin City ad and cultured using routine methods in Medical microbiology department of University of Benin teaching hospital. Benin city, Nigeria. One hundred strains of entero-virulent Escherichia coli strainswereisolated from the samples and were identified to species level using the protocol ofCowan and Steel. Serotypingwas also done using antisera obtained from Biotech laboratories UK Antibiotics susceptibility tests was carried out on the isolates, using the methods of Stokes. R-Plasmid DNA analysis was carried to isolate and characterize the Plasmid DNA using the alkaline analysis method of Tagahashi and Nagano. The isolated strains belong the following 0. Serotypes; 01, 020, 063, 044 (4strains), 055, 063, 027, 08, 0167, 00153, 0025, 029, 026, 0158.0018, 014, 015, 0152, 00142, 0028ac, 012ac, 0153, 0156, and 0157 (8 strains). Plasmid DNA analysis showed three Plasmid bands greater than that of the reference Plasmid marker HIND111. This study presents, the isolation of R- Plasmid strains conferring resistance to the fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents and other antibiotics in Benin City, Nigeria.
Keywords: Plasmids, diarrhoea, antibiotics, strains, entero-virulent, fluoroquinolone
