Prevalence of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli on ostrich carcasses and the susceptibility of ostrich-origin E. coli isolates to various antibiotics

There has been limited research on the prevalence of foodborne pathogens su ch as Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter on ostrich ca rcasses. Likewise, few studies have been done in ostriches to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of common bacteria, like E. coli. In this s tudy, ostrich carcasses were sampled from eight slaughterhouses in Ohio and one in Indiana. Although results demonstrated no E. coli 0157: H7 from the carcasses sampled, 91% (116/128) of the dressed carcasses sampled had E. c oli present. One carcass sample (1/152) was positive for Salmonella. Campyl obacter were detected in 10% (19/191) of the carcasses. Antimicrobial susce ptibility testing oil 93 carcass E. coli isolates showed resistance to eryt hromycin (99%), neomycin (65%), netilmicin (2%), oxytetracycline (22%), str eptomycin (2%), and trimethoprim (3%). All isolates were resistant to bacit racin, lincomycin, penicillin, and vancomycin. For the large intestinal sam pling, 149 of the 217 (69%) samples had E coli present. Fifty of these 149 samples had E. coli levels ranging from 10(2) to 10(5) colony-forming units /g feces. Campylobacter were isolated from 6 of 201 (3%) samples. No Salmon ella colony was detected. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on 131 intes tinal E coli isolates showed resistance to erythromycin (98%), neomycin (66 %), netilmicin (34%), oxytetracycline (34%), streptomycin (40%), and trimet hoprim (13%). All isolates were resistant to bacitracin, lincomycin, penici llin, and vancomycin.