Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 25 | Published: 05 Oct 2026
Frederick Obeng Amoah1, Sylvester Chinbuah1, Benjamin Apagya Mensah1, Solomon Asante Sefa1, Ebenezer Kofi Mensah1
1Sekondi Public Health Laboratory, Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Sylvester Chinbuah, Sekondi Public Health Laboratory, Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana, Email: sylvester.chinbuah@ghs.gov.gh, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8279-462X
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 29 Aug 2026, Published: 05 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Escherichia coli, beta lactamases, drug resistance, bacterial, zoonoses, occupational exposure
©Sylvester Chinbuah et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Sylvester Chinbuah et al., Genomic Evidence of cross-host transmission of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli between livestock and abattoir workers in Ghana. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):25. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0025
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli) is an increasing public health concern because resistance to third-generation cephalosporins limits treatment options and complicates infection prevention. Abattoirs may serve as important points for transmission between animals and humans. This study assessed the prevalence, risk factors, and genomic evidence of transmission of ESBL-E. coli among livestock and abattoir workers (AW) in Ghana.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2024 at the Sekondi-Takoradi abattoir in Ghana. Stool samples were collected from AW, non-abattoir workers (NAW), and livestock. Isolation, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed following 2024 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on 81 isolates to identify resistance genes, determine multilocus sequence types, and assess genetic relatedness using core genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ESBL carriage at p < 0.05.
A total of 729 samples were analysed, including 219 AW, 210 livestock, and 300 NAW samples. ESBL-E. coli carriage was highest among livestock (34.8%), followed by AW (24.2%) and NAW (15.7%). Carriage among AW was significantly higher compared with NAW (p = 0.005). Whole genome sequencing identified blaCTXM-15 as the dominant ESBL gene, detected in more than 96% of isolates. Thirty-one sequence types were identified, with ST3580 detected in both livestock and AW. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 6 clusters of closely related isolates shared between humans and animals. Eating at the abattoir during work (p=0.039) and knowledge of zoonotic bacterial spread (p=0.031) were associated with ESBL carriage.
High faecal carriage of ESBL-E. coli among livestock and abattoir workers, together with genomic evidence of closely related strains across hosts, suggests possible transmission within the abattoir setting. Strengthened infection prevention, workplace hygiene, and antimicrobial stewardship are needed to reduce transmission at the human-animal interface.
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