Méril Massot

Last update: 16 May 2016

Title: Diversity of Escherichia coli populations and antibioresistance at buffalo/cattle interafces in southern Africa: indiavidual and spatio-temporal variability

Summary

The aim of this CIRAD/RP-PCP project is to evaluate the role of the gut bacteria Escherichia coli as an ecological tool in order to identify the main pathways for micro-organisms spreading between domestic and wild ruminants in Southern Africa. The final aim of this project is to put in light the most efficient ways to fight against pathogens and limit their spread between wildlife and domestic animals. The initial focus is the assessing of temporal variability of population structure of commensal Escherichia coli in cattle grazing in same areas than wild buffaloes, near from Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Escherichia coli (E.coli) is interesting for this project because it’s widespread among mammals, and has a huge genetic diversity. Moreover, studies have already shown that the presence of the different subgroups of E. coli inside the gut of an animal is function of several factors as the host species, climate, diet, and date of sampling.

The analysis will be based on feces collections of four cattle heads each day during 30 days, in March and April 2014. Samples will be analyzed in Paris, at the laboratory of microbiology of Hopital Bichat, and at unite UMR 1137 INSERM, Paris, from May to July 2014, in partnership with CIRAD. Classical bacteriological methods (bacterial counts, antibiograms) and molecular biology protocols (PCR) will be performed on samples. Studying commensal E.coli population structure in cows and its evolution during several days will permit to check if the daily variation is insignificant comparing to other environmental factors that can impact the commensal population structure.

We also want to assess the carrying of antibacterial resistance in cows which may transmit antibiotic resistance to buffaloes. A previous study in the same area, performed by CIRAD, showed this tendency. As we known that commensal E.coli is responsible of carriage and transmission of antimicrobial factors between pathogenic and commensal flora in humans and animals, establish the antibacterial carrying profile of commensal E. coli populations in cattle will also permit to check if there are microbial pathways between these sympatric species.

Last update: 16 May 2016