Characterization of E. coli pathotypes of bovine and livestock farm environment origin

In the environment of the farms, feed, fodder and water could be contaminated with fecal material especially which could constitute a reservoir of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria.Total of 80 fecal samples collected from diarrheic calves, normal calves, diarrheic cattle, healthy cattle and shed of cattle were included in this study. Of which 67 (83.75%) isolates were biochemically identified as E.coli. Among 67 E.coli isolates, 12 (17.91%) isolates were of diarrheic cases (10 isolates from 1 month-6 months calf and 2 isolates from diarrheic cow), 51 (76.11%) isolates were of healthy cows (14 isolates from 1 month-6 months calf and 37 isolates from normal cows), 2(2.98%) from water samples, one isolate (1.49%)each from cow manure and air sample at farm respectively, from cow shed. Eleven (16.41%) out of 67 isolates were found to cause lysis on sheep erythrocytes and 55 (82.089%) out of 67 isolates were found to be biofilm producers on Congo red. Twenty-four (35.82%) isolates out of 67 were positive for bfpA gene, eight (11.94%) for eaeC gene, while five (7.46%) for both the genes of E.coli strain.