Isolation, Identification and Antibiogram of Escherichia coli from Table Eggs

Abstract

Escherichia coli is one of the common microbial flora of poultry gut. Most of E. coli isolates are nonpath- ogenic but are considered to be an indicator of fecal contamination in food industry. A study was carried-out on the prevalence, incidence, isolation and antibiogram of E. coli from table eggs. A total of 100 table eggs were collected from various locations of district Peshawar, Pakistan and divided into three parts viz., the egg-yolk, egg-white and eggshell. These were cultured on different media and identified organism was subjected to antibiogram study using the disk diffusion method. The overall prevalence of E. coli was found as 37%. While, incidence was recorded as 15% in egg- shells, 12% in egg-whites and 10% in egg-yolks. It was concluded that the table eggs were contaminated with E. coli and higher incidence of E. coli was recorded in eggshells as compared to other components of the eggs. The antibiotics ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin were recorded highly active against E. coli.