Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) Producing Escherichia coli in Bovines from J and K, India

Abstract

Background: Higher prevalence of ESBL producers is alarming in dairy sector. So limiting antimicrobial use may curtail the selection and persistence of predominant ESBL and conjugative plasmids among strains. The study was aimed to determine the occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli as well as their genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance and integrons in bovines. Methods: A total of 180 faecal samples were screened for the presumptive ESBL producing E. coli isolates. All ESBL producing isolates were subjected to the screening test and were confirmed as ESBL producers by double disc. Further, these ESBL producers were tested for the presence of bla genes and those found positive were tested for multidrug resistance (MDR) by disk diffsion. MDR positive isolates were further tested for the presence of intI 1, intI 2 and intI 3 genes. Result: A total of 360 presumptive ESBL producing E. coli isolates were obtained. Out of which, 154 (42.77%) isolates were found to be resistant and were confirmed as ESBL producers. Of 154 ESBL isolates, 120 (77.92%) isolates carried the gene/s screened for blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes are were declared as multi drug resistant. Out of 120 MDR isolates, 59 tested positive for the integron gene.