Background: Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) have frequently been associated with food borne illness and are considered as most serious of known food borne pathogens leading to severe illnesses and high mortality rates in humans. Most of outbreaks were traced to raw meat and raw milk consumption, as well as to dairy products such as yogurt and cheese derived from raw milk. Results: Out of 200 samples examined, 40 (20%) and 7 (3.5%) of the samples were positive to E. coli and E. coli O157: H7 respectively. The highest isolation of E. coli was from cheese (40%), followed by raw milk (32%), yogurt (25.71%), beef (13.84%), and pasteurized milk (0%). Among E. coli O157:H7 isolates, the highest isolation was from raw milk (12%) followed by cheese (5.71%) and meat (3.07%). However, no E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from pasteurized milk and yogurt. Antibiotic susceptibility profile showed that E. coli was resistant for vancomycin (89.74%), ampicillin (76.92%) and streptomycin (69.23%). The analysis showed that, 92.5% of isolates showed multidrug resistance comprising 2-4 antimicrobials. Conclusion: The occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 and its multiple antibiotic resistant profiles shows a risk for public health and food safety as well as animal production. These findings stress the need for an integrated control of E. coli O157:H7 from farm production to consumption of food of animal origin.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2014 to January 2015 in Dire Dawa city and Haramaya University slaughterhouses and retail shops to identify major foodborne pathogens, assess the beef microbial safety and potential contamination risk factors. 320 beef and environmental pooled samples were examined for the presence of E. coli, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in accordance with international standard guidelines. On each visit of the slaughter house a total of four pooled swab samples were taken each from cleaned, disinfected and dry surfaces, other from hooks, knives and aprons, the third from personnel's hands who works on flaying, evisceration and carcass cutting before the beginning of operation. For isolation and identification of pathogens from meat, 25 gram of sample was weighed, cut in to small piece with different sterile scalpel blade and placed into sterile stomacher bags. The questionnaire survey data and laboratory results of the collected samples were entered into databases using Micro-Soft Excel computer program and analyze using SPSS version-19.0. Of 290 total beef samples collected, E. coli was isolated from 36(12.41%) and of which 6(2.06%) were confirmed on Sorbitol MacConkey agar to be E. coli O157 H7. On the other hand 8(2.75%) Salmonella spp. was identified using culture and biochemical tests. The present study indicated significantly higher fecal coliforms counts in beef samples from HU slaughterhouse (7.50 log10 cfug -1 ) than in carcass sample from Haramaya retail shop (4.80 log10 cfug -1 ). Out of 30 environmental pooled samples, E. coli, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella were investigated in 7(23.33%), 2(6.66%) and 2(6.66%), respectively. From the visual observations: slaughterhouse, hygienic practice employed, personnel habit were found below the minimum standards. Therefore, good management and hygienic practices should be introduced in order to enhance the overall safety and hygienic quality of beef for the safeguard of consumers.

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-018-0064-3.

Indigenous knowledge (IK) is a knowledge that people in a given community has developed over time, and continues to develop. IK on environment contributes to sustain ecosystem services and to mitigate climate change. The study explored the role of indigenous practices in protecting natural resource around Arba Minch ZuriaWoreda of ZigityKebeles. It used perception of people on the role of indigenous practices in natural resources management and environment protection using structured and non-structured questionnaires, focused group discussions with key informant and interview of 143 individuals. Data on ecological knowledge was collected from 12 sample villages with 40 key informants. Accordingly, 75% of the respondents agreed that the communities are not using indigenous practices for natural resources management in their area development program. Similarly, 76% of the respondents agreed that there was little support from government, and other institutions on traditional knowledge capacity building. However, indigenous practices of traditional land management have existed as the part of Ganta community and this was reflected by different local terminologies, proverbs, and sayings. There is a well-structured traditional institution that benefits the conservation of natural resources. The study recommended that traditional practices of the community have to be fully applied in natural resource management strategies of any development program in the area. Integrating the local knowledge to work with the existing social institutions will increases the efficiency of natural resources management system.