Differentiation of Human and Migratory Water Fowl by Multiplex Escherichia coli Differential Amplification Technique (MECDAT) in South Punjab, Pakistan

Escherichia coli, a gram negative, facultative anaerobic, non-sporulating rod, bacteria are commonly found in lower intestine as a part of the normal flora of gut in all warm blooded organisms. Most E. coli strains provide many beneficial functions including protection from other pathogenic bacteria. When E. coli strains acquire genetic material from others, they can become pathogenic. E. coli strains can be categorized into 5 principal pathogenicity groups; Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), Enterotoxogenic E. coli (ETEC) and Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). All these strains can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and other illnesses in humans as well as in animals. EHEC O157 is identified readily in the clinical laboratory with standard culturing techniques. All other strain need molecular methods for their presence in any infected materials. In this study we isolated a total of 40 cultures and detected different strains of E. coli from humans and birds (water fowls). In all isolates antibiotic sensitivity by disc diffusion method with genetic characterization within the E. coli. The result shows that all human E. coli were resistant to 3 antibiotics (Ampicillin, Co-Trimoxazole, and Cefuroxime), while birds E. coli strains are sensitive to these antibiotics indicates different genomic lineage. In human isolates EHEC has highest share, however it was not significantly placed. In correlation studies (Pearson’s Correlation) indicates that its significance to the use of only chloramphenicol (p=0.044). ANOVA as well as Pearson’s and Spearman’s coefficients show that there is no association with any of the drugs that could be useful for their treatment. In could be concluded from the antibiotic profile, distribution pattern that the two groups are epidemiologically are different. Furthermore, it appears that birds don’t contribute to the spread of disease in humans/animals.