​Prevalence of Shigatoxigenic, Enteropathogenic and Antimicrobial Drug Resistant Escherichia coli from Captive Wild Animals of Alipore Zoo, Kolkata, India

Background: Escherichia coli is one of the intestinal microbiota in wildlife as in domestic animals and humans. The prevalent serogroups, pathogenic strains like STEC, EPEC and antimicrobial resistance is less frequently studied in captive wildlife of India. The present study was aimed to study the prevalence of STEC, EPEC and antimicrobial resistant E. coli from captive wild animals in a zoo in Kolkata, India. Methods: This study was done during March 2019 to June 2019 for E. coli from faecal samples of captive wild birds and mammals. The pathotypes STEC and EPEC were detected for the presence of stx1, stx2 and eae virulence genes, respectively. Extended spectrum beta- lactamases, ampC beta-lactamases production and antimicrobial susceptibility were detected by standard phenotypic methods. Result: In this study, some E.coli isolates were found harbouring genes for ETEC and EPEC. Extended spectrum beta- lactamases and ampC beta-lactamases were produced by some isolates. Most E. coli isolates were detected multidrug-resistant but were mostly sensitive to gentamicin and amikacin. This study demonstrated that captive wild animals harbour potentially pathogenic E. coli that were resistant for many antimicrobials.