Abstract 

Name: Sahar Abdel-Aleem Abdel-Aziz
Birth date: 1/9/1984
Degree: Master degree
Address: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University
Major Field: Zoonoses
Title: Public Health Importance of Enteric Bacteria of Sheep and Goats.

Abstract

         This study was performed in the period May 2009 through April 2010 to determine the role of sheep and goats in transmitting enteric pathogens to man in Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt. Trials for enteric bacteria isolation were conducted on samples collected from a total of 599 faecal specimens (472 sheep and 127 goats), 137 milk samples (120 sheep and 17 goats). In addition, 157 stool samples were collected from farmers (66), shepherds (33) and house-wives (24) beside individuals having no history of livestock contact; residents in urban areas (22) and outpatients from Beni-Suef University Hospital (18). The isolated enteric bacteria from sheep faecal samples were E. coli (59.11%),  S. Newport (0.42%), Yersinia spp. (19.07%), C. jejuni (0.64%), Ps. aeruginosa (3.18%), Proteus spp. (3.81%), E. cloacae (0.64%), Cit. freundii (0.42%), K. pneumoniae (0.21%) and P. stuartii (0.42%), while the enteric bacteria recovered from sheep's milk were E. coli (2.5%), S. Newport (0.83%), Yersinia spp. (11.67%), Ps. aeruginosa (10.0%) and P. stuartii (0.83%). None of sheep milk samples reacted positively for Campylobacter spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp. or Klebsiella spp. Goat faecal samples revealed a positive result for E. coli (47.24%), Yersinia spp. (18.11%), Ps. aeruginosa (0.79%), Proteus spp. (7.09%),              V. parahaemolyticus (0.79%) and P. stuartii (0.79%) with negative results for each of Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp, and Klebsiella spp. On the other hand, the cultivated enteric bacteria from caprine milk included E. coli (5.88%), Yersinia spp. (11.76%) and Ps. aeruginosa (17.65%), whereas Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. and Providencia spp. failed detection in all goat milk examined. Shifting to the occurrence of enteric bacteria in the examined humans it was reported that E. coli, Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., Ps. aeruginosa, P. vulgaris, E. cloacae, Cit. freundii,         K. pneumoniae and Sh. flexneriae Gr. 3  were recovered at rates of  25.48%, 1.91%, 23.57%, 3.18%, 1.91%, 0.64%, 2.55%, 0.64% 0.64%, respectively. None of the examined humans reacted positively for Campylobacter spp. It was concluded that small ruminants, both clinically diseased and apparently healthy, play an important role as reservoirs of enteric pathogens of public health importance. The economic importance and health hazards of the recovered enteric bacteria were discussed. 

Key words: Enteric bacteria-Sheep-Goats-Humans-Faecal samples-Milk-Stool-Public
                        health importance.