Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance of Different Phylogroups of <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Feces of Breeding and Laying Hens

• Main Authors: Sandra Pais (Author), Mariana Costa (Author), Ana Rita Barata (Author), Lígia Rodrigues (Author), Isabel M. Afonso (Author), Gonçalo Almeida (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2022-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Animal and food sources are seen as a potential transmission pathway of multi-drug resistance (MDR) micro-organisms to humans. <i>Escherichia. coli</i> is frequently used as an indicator of fecal contamination in the food industry and known as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Microbial contamination as a major outcome for the poultry and egg industry and is a serious public health problem. In the present study we performed the quantification of β-glucoronidase positive <i>E. coli</i> in 60 fecal samples of breeding and laying hens collected in Portugal in 2019. Phylogenetic and pathotypic characterization, antimicrobial susceptibility, and detection of resistant extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes were assessed. The phylogenetic and pathogenic characterization and detection of ESBL genes were assessed by real-time PCR and antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Overall, <i>E. coli</i> quantification was 6.03 log CFU/g in breeding hens and 6.02 log CFU/g in laying hens. The most frequent phylogroups were B1. None of the isolates was classified as diarrheagenic <i>E. coli</i> (DEC). In total, 57% of the isolates showed MDR and 3.8% were positive for ESBL. Our study highlights that consumers may be exposed to MDR <i>E. coli</i>, presenting a major hazard to food safety and a risk to public health.

Item Description

10.3390/antibiotics12010020
2079-6382