Diarrea neonatale bovina : Escherichia coli e il fenomeno dell’antibiotico-resistenza

Escherichia coli is a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Several highly adapted clones have acquired specific virulence characters and have become pathogenic. Pathotypes of E.coli represent the main cause of health problems and economical losses in calves. In the last years E. coli strains resistant to multiple drugs have been found, especially in calves affected by neonatal diarrhoea. Aim of the work was to evaluate the trend of antibiotic resistance of some E. coli strains isolated from calves. Results show a significant prevalence of multi antibiotic resistance in E. coli strains. Furthermore, the increasing level of resistance to antimicrobial agents important in treating human diseases, such as cephalospotins and fluoroquinolones, may represent a significant public health concern.