Distribution pattern of antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from colibacillosis cases in broiler farms of Egypt

Abstract

Background and Aim: Multidrug resistance (MDR) of Escherichia coli has become an increasing concern in poultry farming worldwide. However, E. coli can accumulate resistance genes through gene transfer. The most problematic resistance mechanism in E. coli is the acquisition of genes encoding broad-spectrum β-lactamases, known as extended-spectrum β-lactamases, that confer resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes (conferring resistance to quinolones) and mcr-1 genes (conferring resistance to colistin) also contribute to antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antimicrobial susceptibility and to detect β-lactamase and colistin resistance genes of E. coli isolated from broiler farms in Egypt. Materials and Methods: Samples from 938 broiler farms were bacteriologically examined for E. coli isolation. The antimicrobial resistance profile was evaluated using disk diffusion, and several resistance genes were investigated through polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results: Escherichia coli was isolated and identified from 675/938 farms (72%) from the pooled internal organs (liver, heart, lung, spleen, and yolk) of broilers. Escherichia coli isolates from the most recent 3 years (2018–2020) were serotyped into 13 serotypes; the most prevalent serotype was O125 (n = 8). The highest phenotypic antibiotic resistance profiles during this period were against ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid. Escherichia coli was sensitive to clinically relevant antibiotics. Twenty-eight selected isolates from the most recent 3 years (2018–2020) were found to have MDR, where the prevalence of the antibiotic resistance genes ctx, tem, and shv was 46% and that of mcr-1 was 64%. Integrons were found in 93% of the isolates. Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of E. coli infection in broiler farms associated with MDR, which has a high public health significance because of its zoonotic relevance. These results strengthen the application of continuous surveillance programs.

Antimicrobial resistance of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler, layer, and breeder chickens

“…In contrast, high phenotypic resistance (100%) to CO was detected among APEC isolates from broiler chickens in India [ 49 ] and 33% in Qatar [ 45 ] which might be related to the use of CO on chicken farms as a therapeutic drug. In contrast to another study from Nepal [ 41 , 54 ] and Egypt [ 55 ], we found very low phenotypic resistance with a very low MIC 0.98 μg, which could be due to the ban of CO. CO should not be used for animal production because it is a last-resort antibiotic for human use. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal has announced that there are no antibiotics in feed, and further monitoring and evaluation are needed.…”

“…[ 52 ], who reported a lower prevalence of the mcr1 ( 1.2%) with all isolates phenotypically R to CO [ 71 ]. Since the discovery of mcr1 in swine E. coli obtained from China [ 39 ], the relatively high mcr1 have been detected in several other studies of APEC isolates from broilers (43.9% [ 41 ], 22.8% [ 55 ] in Nepal, 15.3% [ 72 ] in China, and 64.3% [ 53 ] in Canada. The constant use of CO on poultry farms may be responsible for this alarming finding of a high percentage of mcr1 .…”

Contamination of Kazakhstan cheeses originating from Escherichia coli and its resistance to antimicrobial drugs

“…The presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in dairy products is recognized as a global problem of food safety and public health due to the potential transmission risk of resistant pathogens to the human population [ 18 , 19 ]. The resistance of E .…”

“…In addition to traditional methods of microbiological cultivation based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, molecular biological methods have become a priority in the study of the Enterobacteriaceae family for species identification, epidemiological typing, and determination of a phylogenetic relationship between pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria. In addition, due to its practical significance, bacteria of this family can transfer and transmit genes of resistance to antibacterial drugs to other microorganisms in the human and animal gut microbiome [ 18 ]. At present, antibiotic resistance is recognized as a significant public health problem and poses a threat to human health [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli with detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing isolates in broilers in east Algeria

“…Antimicrobial resistance of E. coli infecting poultry has increased in recent decades, and antibiotic resistance has been changing in different parts of the world [ 14 , 41 ]. Such resistant E. coli could spread to humans through chicken meat consumption and noncompliance with hygiene practices among farmworkers [ 42 ]. This is particularly significant in underdeveloped countries, where antibiotic-treated meat or other animal products should be avoided [ 43 ].…”