Distribution of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic resistant genes in campylobacter jejuni isolated from poultry in North West of Pakistan

Abstract

Campylobacter species are one of the most important food borne zoonotic pathogens. A total of 1260 poultry meat samples were collected from four different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and processed for isolation of campylobacter species. A total of 182 (14%) Campylobacter jejuni were isolated using enrichment and plate media followed by confirmation through multiplex PCR. Isolates were tested for 15 antibiotics using disc diffusion method followed by detection of their respective antimicrobial resistant genes. Overall prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni was 14% being higher in Peshawar division (21%) followed by Bannu division (16%), Malakand division (13%) and Hazara division (8%). Over all highest antibiotic resistance was found against AMX (93%) followed by LIN (88%), AMP (86%), TET (82%), SXT (75), CHL (68%), CLR (65%), STR (50%), GEN (44%), OFX (27%), CIP (25%), LFX (13%) and AZM (11%) while the least resistance was found against GAT (8%) and CRO (9%). 90% isolates were found to have multiple drug resistance. As for as antibiotic resistant genes are concerned, the highest ARG was blaTEM (93%) followed by tetA (82%), sul2 (75%), blaSHV (72%), tetC (71%), strA/ strB (50%), sul1 (49%), blaCMY2 and aadA (44%) while the least resistant gene was aadb (9%) followed by sul3 (21%) and aac(3)IV (37%). About 92% isolates were found to have multiple drug resistance genes which is a matter of great concern from human public health perspective.