Detection and characterization of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli carrying virulence gene isolated from broilers in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND The emergence and dissemination of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a severe threat to public health by limiting clinical treatment and prophylactic options. OBJECTIVES This study investigates the prevalence of Escherichia coli in broilers, their phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles and the presence of virulence-associated genes (VAGs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 216 pooled cloacal samples were collected from 1080 broilers across six districts of Bangladesh. Each pooled sample comprised randomly selected cloacal swabs from five birds per farm. E. coli isolates were identified using standard bacteriological approach, followed by biochemical assays and PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and the presence of ARGs and VAGs was determined via PCR. Five selected isolates were partially sequenced for five VAGs using Sanger sequencing. RESULTS A total of 177 E. coli isolates (81.94%, 95% confidence interval: 76.24%-86.53%) were identified. The isolates showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (93.79%), followed by tetracycline (91.53%), erythromycin (89.27%) and ciprofloxacin (87%). Conversely, ceftriaxone (80.79%) showed highest susceptibility, followed by gentamicin (37.29%) and neomycin (31.07%). All isolates were MDR, with a multiple antibiotic resistance indexes were <0.3. A significant percentage (16.38%) of E. coli isolates were MDR to five antimicrobial classes and harboured blaTEM, sul1, ere (A), tetA, tetB and tetC genes. The highest prevalent ARGs were blaTEM (88.14%) followed by ere (A) (83.62%) and sul 1 (72.32%). The prevalence of VAGs was astA (56.50%), iucD (31.07%), iss (21.47%), irp2 (15.82%) and cva/cvi (3.39%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the presence of ARGs contributing to the development of MDR in E. coli carrying VAGs in broilers. Effective monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial usage in poultry production systems are urgently required to prevent emergence and dissemination of AMR.