Increasing evidence suggests that multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains, especially associated with food animals, constitute a significant concern for global public health. However, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in ExPEC pathotypes associated with the different poultry environments has not been well characterized compared to the human. In the present study, AMR to critically or highly important drugs (n = 25) of both human and veterinary medicine was analysed in poultry environment-derived E. coli isolates with respect to ExPEC vs. non-ExPEC status, phylogenetic lineages and putative ExPEC pathotypes. Results revealed an extensive level of resistance (50%-100%) to drugs commonly used in human or veterinary medicine across the E. coli pathogenic and phylogenetic identity or the different poultry environments (retail butcher shops vs. poultry farms). Moreover, the overall AMR prevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) varied between ExPEC and non-ExPEC isolates or different lineages of E. coli, or putative ExPEC pathotypes. Of great concern, all putative ExPEC pathotypes were multidrug resistant to drugs used as first-line or last resort therapy for ExPEC infections. Overall, the extensive level of AMR in poultry environments-derived ExPEC pathotypes warrants additional surveillance or to devise effective control measures and also has an important consequence for One Health.

No abstract