Pathogenic attributes of Escherichia coli isolates from free-ranging sambars (Cervus unicolor)

The increasing population pressure has enhanced the wild-domestic animal in teraction leading to greater chances of disease transmission between them. Nine isolates of Escherichia coil were isolated from rectal swabs of appare ntly healthy free-ranging sambars (Cervus unicolor) at Sariska Tiger Reserv e, Sariska (Alwar), Rajasthan. The isolates belonged to 5 different serogro ups, viz. 0: 6, 0: 11,0: 38, 0: 66 and 0: 96. All the isolates were resista nt to one or more antibiotics. The pathogenic nature of isolates was indica ted by cytotoxigenicity (7 of 9 isolates) and mice pathogenicity (6 of 9 is olates) assays. Congo red dye adsorption (CRDA) was observed in all isolate s at 36 hr. Two isolates were sensitive to klebobiocin. Surface hydrophobic ity employing salt aggregation test and adherence to n-hexadecane, surface anionicity as well as sephadex binding were variable among isolates. No cor relation could be established between pathogenicity and CRDA or surface hyd rophobicity of the isolates.