Molecular Characterization of E. coli Isolated from Internal Organs of Dead Chicken

Abstract

Escherichia coli is amongst the common pathogenic bacteria that affects chicken production and commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy worm blooded mammals including chicken. In this study we determined the occurrence of Escherichia coli from internal organs of dead chickens by cultural, biochemical, molecular characterization and their antimicrobial resistance by Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method. A total of 131 internal organ samples (intestine - 34 liver- 24, heart -23, Lungs-20 and oviduct- 28) were collected. Out of 131 samples 41.22% (n=54) were found to be associated with E. coli. Isolated E. coli were positive to 16s rRNA gene band PCR (584bp). Sero grouping of E. coil were performed by slide agglutination test using commercial E. coil specific polyvalent 0 (A-I) antisera, E. coli O group B (Factor 0: 8, 19, 84) antisera and E. coli O group D (Factor 0: 2, 55, 78) antisera. Among the 36 isolates, 38.88% (n=21) belonged to serogroup B and rest of the isolates 61.11% (n=33) to serogroup D. The most prevalent serogroup identified in this study was serogroup D. The isolated E. coil was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test. All isolates of E. coil were susceptibile to ciprofloxacin, norfioxacin, streptomycim and gentamicin. Out of 54 isolates 100% E. coil were resistant to erythromycin, ampicillin, penicillin, amikacin, cephalexin, vancomycin and tetracycline. The finding of the present study revealed the prevalence of multidrug resistant E. coli in the samples of the study area. Antimicrobial drug resistance is becoming a major threat to global public health. It is not only a threat in the treatment of poultry diseases associated with E. coli but also a potential public health hazard to individual who consume poultry products.