Molecular Detection of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in Cattle and Abattoir Workers in Maiduguri, Borno State

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 causes severe haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome, with cattle serving as the principal reservoir and abattoir workers at heightened occupational exposure risk. This study molecularly detects EHEC O157:H7 in cattle faeces and rectal swabs from abattoir workers at Maiduguri abattoir, Borno State, North East Nigeria. Faecal samples from 150 cattle and rectal swabs from 60 abattoir workers were screened on cefixime tellurite sorbitol MacConkey agar. Suspected O157 colonies were confirmed by latex agglutination and PCR targeting the rfbEO157, fliCH7, stx1, stx2, and eaeA virulence genes. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by disk diffusion. E. coli O157:H7 was detected in 9.3 percent of cattle and 5 percent of abattoir workers. All cattle-derived O157 isolates harboured stx2 and eaeA genes, indicating high virulence potential. Worker isolates showed identical virulence gene profiles to cattle isolates in three pairs, suggesting direct zoonotic transmission. Resistance to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole exceeded 60 percent in isolates from both sources. The study identifies Maiduguri abattoir as an active EHEC transmission site and recommends mandatory personal protective equipment, post-slaughter carcass decontamination protocols, and O157 surveillance integration into the Borno State veterinary public health programme. Keywords: EHEC O157:H7, abattoir, zoonosis, stx genes, Borno State