Virulence genotype and phenotype of multiple Antimicrobial Resistant Escherichia coli isolates from Broilers assessed in a “One-Health” Perspective

What is it about?

Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) cause airsacculitis, colibacillosis, polyserositis and septicaemia in birds as well as urinary tract infections and other diseases in humans. In this study, we characterized 57 multi-drug resistant E. coli isolates collected from otherwise healthy broilers. A broad-scale genomic analysis revealed that most of the studied E. coli harboured a transferable 160 Kbp blaCMY-2 plasmid carrying several other resistance genes indicating that such plasmid, could be maintained by using other non-cephalosporin antibiotics due to cross resistance. Furthermore, Caco-2 cells colonization as well as the ability to induce mortality in day-old chicks indicates the importance of developing novel interventions to reduce the load of antimicrobial resistant and potential pathogenic E. coli in broiler.

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