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Antimicrobial susceptibility and plasmids from Escherichia coli isolated from rats
F M Gakuya1, M N Kyule, P B Gathura
1Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi.
Objectives:
To determine if antimicrobial resistance occurs in E. coli isolated from rats and if this resistance is transferable via plasmids.
Methods:
Sixty Escherichia coli isolates obtained from 215 rats trapped in and around Nairobi, Kenya, were analysed for antimicrobial susceptibility to eleven commonly used antimicrobials. Plasmid DNA analysis and in-vitro conjugation tests were conducted on twenty two resistant isolates.
Results:
A total of 12 (20%) E. coli were resistant to at least one of the commonly used drugs including ampicillin, sulphamethoxazole and streptomycin. Eight (13.3%) isolates were multidrug resistant. The drug resistant E. coli fell into five plasmid profile groups with plasmids ranging between two and 98 megadaltons (Mda). Resistance to ampicillin was transferable.
Conclusion:
The results of this study show that rats from the study area may form an important reservoir for drug-resistant E. coli that could pose a public health hazard.