Characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Isolated in Organic Waste Products (Cattle Fecal Matter, Manure and, Slurry) from Cattle’s Markets in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Cattle farming can promote diarrheal disease transmission through waste, effluents or cattle fecal matter. The study aims to characterize the diarrheagenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (DEC) isolated from cattle feces, manure in the composting process and slurry, collected from four cattle markets in Ouagadougou. A total of 585 samples (340 cattle feces, 200 slurries and 45 manures in the composting process) were collected from the four cattle markets between May 2015 and May 2016. A multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), namely 16-plex PCR, was used to screen simultaneously the virulence genes specific for shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> (STEC), enteropathogenic <i>E. coli</i> (EPEC), enterotoxigenic <i>E. coli</i> (ETEC), enteroinvasive <i>E. coli</i> (EIEC) and enteroaggregative <i>E. coli</i> (EAEC). DEC was detected in 10.76% of samples. ETEC was the most prevalent (9.91%). STEC and EAEC have been observed with the same rate (0.51%). ETEC were detected in 12.64% of cattle feces, in 6.66% of manure in the composting process and in 5% of slurry. STEC were detected in 0.58% of cattle feces and in 2.22% of manure in the composting process. EAEC was detected only in 1% of slurry and in 2.22% of manure in the composting process. ETEC strains were identified based on <i>estIa</i> gene and/or <i>estIb</i> gene and/or <i>elt</i> gene amplification. Of the 58 ETEC, 10.34% contained <i>astA</i>, 17.24% contained <i>elt</i>, 3.44% contained <i>estIa</i> and 79.31% contained <i>estIb</i>. The two positive EAEC strains contained only the <i>aggR</i> gene, and the third was positive only for the <i>pic</i> gene. The results show that effluent from cattle markets could contribute to the spreading of DEC in the environment in Burkina Faso.