title: Assessment of the Contamination of Some Foodstuffs by Escherichia coli O157 in Benin, West Africa.
abstract: Escherichia coli O157 is a pathogenic bacterium causing haemorrhagic colitis. It represents a serious public health problem in Northern America and Europe, which can plague Africa. Most cases of mentioned poisoning were related to contaminated meat products and vegetables. The present work aimed to estimate the prevalence of E. coli O157 in meat and vegetables in Benin. For this purpose, 6 lots of faeces samples from pigs and 8 from cattle were collected at the farms on the outskirts of Cotonou. Similarly, 20 samples of carcasses, 20 samples of intestines and stomach, and 20 surfaces samples of slaughtering equipment were taken. Vegetables and environment materials in gardens have also been sampled for 84 samples. Bacteriological analyses revealed a percentage of contamination of 50% for pig faeces and 25% for cattle ones. All the meats from stalling parks have been contaminated by this bacterium. For vegetables, 14.6% of samples were contaminated by E. coli O157. The presence of this pathovar in animal breeding and slaughtering environment and in the gardens shows that Benin is not aware of the risks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of contaminated products. Therefore, it urges including that germ in a systematic search during safety control of food products in Benin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Water and Food Hygiene, Ex-National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, 01 P.O. Box, 418 Cotonou, Benin ; Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box, 2009 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Honoré Sourou
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bankole
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box, 2009 Cotonou, Benin ; Interfaculty Center of Training and Research in Environment for the Sustainable Development, Laboratory of Hygiene, Sanitation, Toxicology and Environmental Health, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box, 1463 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Victorien Tamègnon
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Dougnon
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Center of Training and Research in Environment for the Sustainable Development, Laboratory of Hygiene, Sanitation, Toxicology and Environmental Health, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box, 1463 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Roch Christian
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box, 2009 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dougnon
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Research and Training Laboratory in Applied Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O. Box, 2009 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Boniface
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yehouenou
authors.affiliation: Department of Water and Food Hygiene, Ex-National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, 01 P.O. Box, 418 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kougblenou
authors.affiliation: Department of Water and Food Hygiene, Ex-National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, 01 P.O. Box, 418 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agonsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Water and Food Hygiene, Ex-National Laboratory of Public Health, Ministry of Health, 01 P.O. Box, 418 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Magloire
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legonou
authors.affiliation: Training and Research Unit in Food Sciences and Technology, University of Nangui Abrogoua, 02 P.O. Box, Autoroute d'Abobo, 801 Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dadie
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Typing in Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi, 05 P.O. Box, 1604 Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Lamine
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8160-5954
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baba-Moussa