Incidence and evaluation of extended spectrum beta-lactamase in avian pathogenic E. coli

The emergence and spread of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in poultry farms pose a significant challenge for the scientific community. The presence of APEC in poultry farms is linked to its ability to form biofilms, which is worsened by various virulence factors and drug resistance, enabling bacteria to survive in various environments. The present study investigated the prevalence of ESBL-producing APEC isolates from waste samples collected from poultry farms. A total of thirty samples were collected from ten poultry farms. One metallic sheen colony from Eosin methylene blue agar from each sample was used to isolate APEC. This study revealed that all twenty-eight E. coli isolates resisted at least one antibiotic, reflecting a high resistance rate. Isolates that resisted one or more antibiotics were further screened for APEC virulence genes via conventional polymerase chain reaction. The analysis revealed that 38% of the isolates were APEC strains, while the remaining 63% were non-APEC strains. Most APEC isolates harboured more than one beta-lactamase gene, with the prevalent ESBL genotype combination being blaSHV and blaTEM. Phenotypic confirmation using the Ceftazidime/Ceftadime + Clavulanic acid revealed that one isolate was found to produce the ESBL enzyme. To tackle this issue, it is important to implement preventative measures effectively, aiming to decrease the prevalence of ESBL-producing APEC and its transmission to humans via poultry products.