Foodborne infections are widespread and growing public health problems in the world. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 : H7 is one of the most significant foodborne pathogens. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence and antibiogram of E. coli O157 : H7 from raw beef as well as hygienic and sanitary practices of meat handling in abattoir and retailer shops. Systematic random sampling technique and census methods were used to collect samples from abattoir and retailer shops, respectively. All tryptone soya broth preenriched carcass samples were subcultured onto MacConkey agar. Then, the bacterium confirmed as Escherichia coli using biochemical tests was streaked onto Sorbitol-MacConkey agar and incubated at 37°C for 24 hrs. Escherichia coli O157 : H7 was confirmed by latex agglutination kit. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 isolates was done against 13 antimicrobials. Hygiene and sanitation data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Pearson Chi-square and Fisher’s exact two-tailed tests were performed and differences were considered significant at P ≤ 0.05. Out of 197 meat samples, 23.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 17.6–29.9%) and 9.1% (95% CI: 5.5–14.1%) were contaminated with Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli O157 : H7, respectively. There was a significant variation in the occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 between retailer shops (19.1%) and abattoir (7.2%) (P = 0.03). The study revealed that the municipal abattoir and retailer shops in Ambo town did not adhere to the required sanitation and hygienic standards. All Escherichia coli O157 : H7 isolates were susceptible to norfloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, and ceftazidime. However, all isolates were resistant to amoxicillin. Multidrug resistance was widespread and was found in 66.3% of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 isolates. The occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 was high. Therefore, fulfilling national and international meat safety requirements, training and monitoring of meat handlers, and rational use of antimicrobials are recommended

A number of laboratory techniques are employed to establish the diagnosis of microbial diseases that cause significant morbidity as well as mortality in humans and animals throughout the world. Leptospirosis is an emerging and re-emerging enigmatic zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance. Currently, over 600,000 human deaths are attributed due to leptosprirosis annually in the world. However, there is a lack of information on Leptospira strains in remote parts of the world. The diagnosis of leptospirosis is challenging due to non-specific clinical feature. Thus, laboratory tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of disease due to its varied symptomatology. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT), which determines agglutinating antibodies in sera for various serovars of Leptospira species is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) usually detects only the antibodies reacting with a broadly reactive genus specific antigen and thus gives no indication of the causative serovar or serogroup, which limits its application. Polymerase chain reaction on the other hand is considered sensitive and specific for the rapid detection of Leptospira in clinical samples. It is imperative to employ immunological and molecular techniques in order to make an unequivocal diagnosis of leptospirosis to institute immediate therapy to mitigate the suffering of the patients.