Multidrug-Resistant and Genetic Characterization of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing E. coli Recovered from Chickens and Humans in Egypt.

Heba Badr,Amal I Mansour,Samah F Ali,Naglaa M Hagag,Momtaz A Shahein,Sara M Elnomrosy,Essam Kamel,Reem M Reda,Hala R Ali

doi:10.3390/ani12030346

Abstract

Simple SummaryFeeding food chain animals with sub-therapeutic doses for prophylaxis or for growth-promoting purposes has led to the emergence of resistant bugs such as ESBL-E. coli. Infections caused by these superbugs are tremendously associated with treatment failures and high morbidity/mortality rates. Scarce information is currently available on the relation between the incidence of ESBL-E. coli in human and food chain animals in Egypt. The current study analyzed chicken and human fecal samples for isolation and characterization of ESBL-producing E. coli followed by sequencing the isolates. Significant similarities were detected between human and chicken isolates, indicating the possibility of zoonotic transmission. In conclusion, the study encouraged managing the use of antibiotics in veterinary field, to reduce the selection and spread of life-threating bugs to humans.Colonization of food chain animals such as chickens with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) poses a major health threat to human. The current study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic relationship between ESBL-producing E. coli from diseased human and chickens in Egypt. A total of 56 out of 120 chicken farms (46.7%) and 9 human samples (100%) were phenotypically and genotypically identified with at least one ESBL-phenotype/gene. Chicken isolates showed a high proportion of beta lactamase from CTX-M group 9 > TEM > PER families, followed by CTX-M group 1 > SHV > GES > OXA group10 > VEB > OXA group2 families, while human isolates only contained the CTX-M family. A high incidence of ESBL genes from the CTX-M family was recognized in both human and chicken isolates. Furthermore, nucleotide identity showed high similarity between chicken and human isolates. In conclusion, the current study traced phenotypes and genotypes of ESBL-producing E. coli from chickens and human samples in Egypt, reporting degrees of similarity that suggest potential zoonotic transmission. Our data highlighted the significant importance of chicken as a major food source not only in Egypt but all over the world in the spreading of ESBL-producing E. coli to human.

Highlights

Escherichia coli is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae which causes enteric and extraintestinal infections in both animals and humans [1]
Various scenarios have shown that close contact between humans and infected livestock contributes to spreading of resistant bacteria including ESBL-producing E. coli
Sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock including chicken may contribute to the global prevalence of resistant bugs such as ESBL-producing E. coli in the environment, posing a major health threat to human

Summary

Introduction

Escherichia coli is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae which causes enteric and extraintestinal infections in both animals and humans [1]. Due to the global spread of antibiotic-resistance bacteria, the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO), and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have coined the “One Health” approach, which includes collaborative efforts from the environment, animal, and human health authorities to limit the spread of this phenomenon [5,6]. Various scenarios have shown that close contact between humans and infected livestock contributes to spreading of resistant bacteria including ESBL-producing E. coli. It has been shown that poultry and poultry by-products act as a potential source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including ESBL-producing E. coli, to humans [8]

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