Molecular Characterisation of Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Captive and Free-Ranging Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) Faecal Samples

Abstract

Background Escherichia coli is a normal inhabitant of the mammalian gut, but it also exists in a number of pathogenic forms. Diarrhoeagenic E. coli constitute pathotypes that are responsible for fatal infections in humans. Increasing contact between humans and non-human primates provides an opportunity for the transfer of potential pathogens between host species. This study aimed to characterise diarrhoeagenic E. coli pathotypes isolated from baboon faecal samples.

Methods E. coli were isolated from faecal samples of 124 animals using culture-based methods. Characterisation was achieved by isolating deoxyribonucleic acid from pure isolates and subjecting them to PCR, using specific primers for detection of virulence genes.

Results Four E. coli pathotypes including enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, enterohaemorrhagic and enteroinvasive were detected from baboon faecal samples. The most prevalent pathotypes were enterotoxigenic (14.5%) and atypical enteropathogenic (14.5%) in the captive and the free-ranging populations respectively. However, the observed differences in the pathotype detection were not significant (p>0.05). Enteroaggregative and diffusely adherent E. coli were not detected from any of the study samples. Conclusion: Olive baboons harbour diarrhoeagenic E. coli pathotypes; hence, the species could be a potential source of zoonotic transmission.