Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance patterns of avian fecal Escherichia coli from turkeys, geese, and ducks
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Date
2018-06
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Publisher
Veterinary world
Abstract
Background and Aim: Avian fecal Escherichia coli (AFEC) are considered to be the natural reservoir of pathogenic strains
in extraintestinal infections as such characterization of AFEC gives insight into the spread of the potential pathogenic
lineage. The aim of the study was to investigate the reservoirs of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) from fecal samples of
healthy ducks, geese, and turkeys by determining the antibiotic resistance patterns of AFEC isolates from turkeys, geese and
ducks and characterization of the isolates using virulence genes, plasmid profiles, and phylogenetic grouping.
Materials and Methods: The disc diffusion method was used to determine antibiotic resistance of 100 AFEC isolates from
turkeys (9), geese (29), and ducks (62) to 8 antibiotics. Molecular characterization of the isolates was done by multiplex
polymerase chain reaction to investigate the presence of 12 virulence genes, plasmid profiling, and phylogenetic grouping
based on the 16S rRNA sequences.
Results: Antibiogram profiles indicated maximum resistance to cloxacillin (100%) and bacitracin (100%) for all AFEC
isolates and high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin; however, all isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance. The AFEC isolates from
turkeys (6) and geese (12) did not contain virulence genes. The frz (3.7%), sitD (29.6%), and fimH (92.5%) were detected
in the duck isolates. None of the isolates had the KpsM, iutA, vat, sitA, hlyF, pstB, ompT, uvrY, and sopB genes. Plasmid
profiling gave four plasmid profiles with the plasmids ranging from 1.5 to 55 kb. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA
sequences revealed similarities between AFEC isolates from the different poultry species, as the isolates did not cluster
according to avian species.
Conclusion: AFEC isolates are potential reservoirs of APEC as they contain some of the virulence genes associated with
APEC. Multidrug resistance is high in AFEC isolated from healthy birds. This is a public health concern.
Description
Open access journal article
Keywords
Antibiotic resistance, Avian fecal escherichia coli, Poultry, Virulence gene
Citation
Dube, N and Mbanga, J.(2018). Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance patterns of avian fecal Escherichia coli from turkeys, geese, and ducks. Veterinary World, 11(6): 859-867.