PAMELA SINGH, VIPIN KHASA*, SUNIL CHOPRA AND VIPUL CHAUDHARY
Department of Biotechnology, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal,
Sonipat-131 039 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : vkhasasnp@gmail.com; Mobile : 98131 21824)
(Received : March 10, 2022; Accepted : April 4, 2022)
ABSTRACT
One of the predominating bacteria that causes diarrhoea is Escherichia coli (E. coli) in canines and may
need treatment. The present study was focused on the isolation of E. coli spp. from dogs; its
morphological and biochemical characterization, and assessment of its antibiotic sensitivity. About
20.8% of E. coli were identified in 394 fecal stool samples of dogs collected from Haryana (India).
Further, the age-wise distribution of isolates suggested that diarrhoea-causing E. coli was more
frequently observed in dogs of more than one year age group (23.2%) followed closely by 0-3 months
age group (21.2%). The present study demonstrated that almost 90% of sensitivity was observed to
gentamycin, followed by chloramphenicol (89%), ofloxacin (85%) and tetracycline (84%). The isolates
were found carrying resistance to ampicillin (87%), cephalexin (73%) and cefotaxime (68%) followed by
amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, streptomycin and amikacin. It was concluded that bacterial diarrhoea in
canine needed attention mostly in young puppies up to three months of age due to possible threat
from viral enteric pathogens which lead to secondary bacterial infections along with low level of host
immunity. Intervention of animal husbandry sector can prove to be a major tool for controlling emergence
and spread of antibiotic resistance.
Key words : Canine, diarrhoea, Escherichia coli, antibiotics resistance