Prevalence of Multiple Drug Resistance among Avian Pathogenic E. coli Isolates from Commercial Poultry

Abstract

Infections associated with Avian Pathogenic E. coli are responsible for huge economic losses for poultry industry worldwide. Particularly, its association with colibacillosis, a complex syndrome which is characterized by lesions of multiple organs i.e. peritonitis, pericarditis, air Sacculitis, osteomyelitis, salpingitis and yolk sac infections is responsible for high mortality and morbidity. Moreover, it causes respiratory tract infections among poultry birds, followed by septicaemia. Liver samples were collected from commercial poultry birds from the various retail shops located in Peshawar City. Bacteria were identified by biochemical and molecular methods. Out of all the tested isolates n=85, 98% were identified as Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Identified APEC samples were further tested against 23 different antibiotics including amoxicillin (89.40%), levofloxacin (62.40%), ciprofloxacin (71.80%), tobramycin (14.10%), gentamycin (34.10%),neomycin (53.00%), streptomycin (81.00%), tigecyclines (0.00%), oxytetracyclines (96.50%), doxycycline (61.20%), nitrofurantoin (1.00%), chloramphenicol (63.50%), cefixime (7%), cefepime (4.70%), ceftazidime (8.30%), cefotaxime (8.00%), cephalothin (43.50%), trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole (77.60%), lincomycin (100%), augmentin (4.70%), carbapenem (4%) and polymyxin B (15%). Out of all n=85 isolates 99.9% were multi-drug resistant. Furthermore, ESBL encoding TEM, OXA, SHV were detected in following percentages 53.60%, 19.50%, 9.70% respectively genes.