Virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus faecalis isolated from hatcheries

Abstract

Hatcheries have the power to spread antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens through the poultry production chain. Enterococci are commensal intestinal bacteria and opportunistic pathogens in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of enterococci in broiler breeder hatcheries in 3 different governorates in Egypt “Sharqia, Beheira, and Dakahlia” with regard to the manifested diseases. The isolation results revealed that E. faecalis occurrence in the examined samples were 5.4% (65/1200) from pipped chicks’ yolk sacs and 5.8% (69/1200) from live chicks’ organs. The antibiotic susceptibility testing of the recovered isolates showed high resistance to vancomycin, oxytetracycline and high sensitivity for penicillin, difloxacin and amikacin. The genetic screening for some virulence and antibiotic resistance genes indicated the high incidence of gelE and asa1 virulence genes between the recovered isolates in correlation with the high incidence of ermB and blaZ antibiotic resistance genes. In conclusion, hygienic measures in breeders' hatcheries are recommended to avoid the spreading of resistance and virulent E. faecalis as it represents a public health threat in addition to its deleterious effects on poultry production.