title: Susceptibility to antibiotics of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic livestock in Trinidad.
abstract: The sensitivity of strains of Escherichia coli isolated from calves, piglets, lambs and kids in Trinidad to seven antibiotics was determined. Two hundred and sixty-four (91.3%) of 289 strains isolated from diarrhoeic animals and 173 (87.4%) of 198 strains from non-diarrhoeic animals exhibited resistance to one or more antibiotics. The difference was not statistically significant (P > or = 0.05; X2). Regardless of health status, isolates from lambs were least resistant (75.0%) and those from piglets most resistant (96.7%) and the difference was significant (P < or = 0.001; X2). Strains of E. coli were most resistant to streptomycin (81.3%) and tetracycline (78.9%) and least resistant to chloramphenicol (4.3%) and gentamycin (4.7%). The predominant antibiotic resistance pattern for isolates from all sources was streptomycin-tetracycline (27.9%). It was concluded that the widespread prevalence of resistance to antibiotics reflects their misuse in the local environment.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, Trinité et Tobago.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adesiyun
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kaminjolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D006041:Goats; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine; D014900:West Indies