Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes significant economic losses in poultry industries. Here, we determined for the first time in Bangladesh, the prevalence of APEC-associated virulence genes in E. coli isolated from layer farms and their antibiotic resistance patterns. A total of 99 samples comprising internal organs, feces, and air were collected from 32 layer farms. Isolation was performed by culturing samples on eosin–methylene blue agar plates, while the molecular detection of APEC was performed by PCR, and antibiograms were performed by disk diffusion. Among the samples, 36 were positive for the APEC-associated virulence genes fimC, iucD, and papC. Out of 36 isolates, 7, 18, and 11 were positive, respectively, for three virulence genes (papC, fimC, and iucD), two virulence genes, and a single virulence gene. Although the detection of virulence genes was significantly higher in the internal organs, the air and feces were also positive. The antibiograms revealed that all the isolates (100%) were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline; 97.2%, to chloramphenicol and erythromycin; 55.5%, to enrofloxacin; 50.0%, to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin; 19.4%, to streptomycin; 11.1%, to colistin; and 8.33%, to gentamicin. Interestingly, all the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis revealed the strongest significant correlation between norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin resistance. This is the first study in Bangladesh describing the molecular detection of APEC in layer farms. Isolated APEC can now be used for detailed genetic characterization and assessing the impact on public health.
Highlights
Poultry farming is a well-developed and profitable agri-business in Bangladesh
Among 99 samples, 82 (82.83%) were positive for E. coli according to the polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting of the E. coli 16S rRNA gene
Statistical analysis revealed that feces carried a significantly higher percentage of E. coli than the other samples investigated
Summary
Poultry farming is a well-developed and profitable agri-business in Bangladesh. It is estimated that the livestock and poultry sector contributes around 1.47% of the total GDP of the country [1]. Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is thought to be prevalent in Bangladesh. E. coli is part of the normal bacterial microbiota of the intestinal tract, other mucosal surfaces of hosts, and the poultry farm environment, few of these strains are endowed with specific virulence factors that define the APEC phenotype [3]. Most APEC strains are phylogenetically associated with extra-intestinal location [4,5]. They are associated with respiratory tract and systemic infections [6]. APEC respiratory infections are secondary to other respiratory tract infections, including infectious bronchitis virus (avian coronavirus), Newcastle disease virus, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum [7]
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