Mayhara Martins Cordeiro Barbosa,Fernanda de Rezende Pinto,Laryssa Freitas Ribeiro,Helen Lira Henriques Torres Zanini,Luiz Augusto do Amaral, UNESP, CAUNESP, mayhara_martins@yahoo.com.br
OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENIC Escherichia coli IN FEE FISHING FARMS
The occurrence of Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC) in water and fish (skin, gastrointestinal tract and muscle) samples was surveyed in five fee fishing farms situated in Córrego Rico microbasin, Jaboticabal, São Paulo/Brazil. E. coli isolates were identified serologically as EPEC and EHEC and performed tests of antimicrobial susceptibility. It was found that among 115 strains of E. coli isolated, 81 were classified as EPEC and 5 (4%) as EHEC. The most common serogroups were O125 (13.9%) and O126 (11.3%). From the 115 bacterial isolates, 60 were resistant to two antimicrobials. Probably, the isolation of EPEC serogroups in this study indicates contamination by pathogens coming from animals, human and/or contaminated water, constituting a potential risk to the consumer’s health.
Keywords: water, fish, contamination, serogroup.