Serogroups and antibiotics susceptibility pattern of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains responsible for colibacillosis in broiler breeding farms in the east of Algeria

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in Broiler Breeders: An Overview

Poultry meat is one of the major animal protein sources necessary to meet the global protein demand. Sustainability in broiler production is the key to achieving its continuous supply, and broiler breeders play a critical role in maintaining this sustainability by providing good quality chicks. Colibacillosis, the disease caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), causes severe economic losses to the poultry industry globally. Moreover, APEC causes an additional burden among broiler breeders, such as a decrease in egg production and mortality among these birds. There is vertical transmission of APEC to the broiler chicks through eggs, resulting in increased first-week mortality and subsequent horizontal transmission at the hatchery. In this regard, the vertical transmission of antibiotic resistance genes is another concern that needs attention. Controlling several diseases in broiler breeders would possibly reduce the first-week mortality in chicks, thereby maintaining the production level. For that, constant monitoring of the bacterial populations is critical. Moreover, amidst the increased antibiotic resistance pattern, more focus on alternative treatment strategies like vaccines, probiotics, and bacteriophages is necessary. Future research focusing on strategies to mitigate APEC in broiler breeders would be one of the finest solutions for sustainable broiler production.

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli with detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing isolates in broilers in east Algeria

Background and Aim: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the causative agent of colibacillosis, one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases responsible for significant economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of APEC isolates recovered from poultry in east Algeria and estimate the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates. Materials and Methods: In the slaughterhouse of Batna City (Algeria), livers indicating colibacillosis were sampled from 204 suspected carcasses with growth retardation and generalized congestion. Escherichia coli isolation and identification were performed on MacConkey agar using conventional methods and the API 20E system. Antimicrobial resistance susceptibility was tested by the disk diffusion method according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute Guidelines. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase detection was carried out using the double-disk confirmation test. Results: One hundred sixty E. coli isolates were recovered (one isolate per sample). Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates showed high levels of resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline (100%), nalidixic acid (95%), ofloxacin (93.75%), doxycycline (91.87), ciprofloxacin (87.50%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (62.50%), gentamycin (32.50%), chloramphenicol (27.50%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (16.25%), colistin (14.37%), and nitrofurantoin (10.62%). All strains were multidrug-resistant to at least three antibiotics, and more than half (52.52%) of the isolates were resistant to at least seven antibiotics. All isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, and aztreonam. Two E. coli isolates were ESBL producers (1.25%). Conclusion: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli resistance to most antimicrobial agents used in poultry may lead to antimicrobial therapy failure. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, broilers, colibacillosis, Eastern Algeria, extended-spectrum β-lactamase.

Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from Broiler Liver in the Center of Algeria, with Detection of CTX-M-55 and B2/ST131-CTX-M-15 in Escherichia coli

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and diversity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from 136 broiler livers randomly purchased in 136 retail markets in Djelfa (Algeria). Isolation was performed on Hektoen agar and bacterial identification was carried out by API20E system and Maldi-TOF-MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry). Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by the disk diffusion and agar dilution methods. Detection of ESBLs and other resistance and integron genes, phylogenetic grouping, and molecular typing was performed by PCR and sequencing. Seventy-eight isolates (one per positive sample) were recovered: 73 E. coli and 5 K. pneumoniae. Among E. coli, 86.3% of isolates were MDR. ESBL activity was revealed in eight E. coli and five K. pneumoniae isolates (rates of 5.9% and 3.7% in analyzed samples, respectively). ESBL genes detected among E. coli were as follows (number of isolates): bla_CTX-M-15 (3), bla_CTX-M-1 (3), bla_CTX-M-55 (1), and bla_SHV-12 (1); all ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates carried the bla_CTX-M-15 gene. ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were assigned to lineages (phylogroup/sequence type and number of isolates in parenthesis): A/ST48 (1), B1/ST6448 (1), B1/ST5087 (3), B1/ST23 (1), and B2/ST131 (two bla_CTX-M-15 E. coli isolates). K. pneumoniae isolates were ascribed to sequence types ST2010 and ST3483. Regarding the 65 non-ESBL E. coli isolates, the most observed resistance genes were as follows: tet(A) (75%), bla_TEM (57.1%), and sul2 (43.5%). Class1 integrons were revealed in seven non-ESBL E. coli isolates (10.7%) and two gene-cassette arrays were identified: dfrA1 and aadA1+dfrA1. Our study provides evidence that broiler-derived food from Center of Algeria constitutes a source of ESBL and/or MDR-producing Enterobacteriaceae, with detection of relevant ESBL genes and epidemic clones.

Virulence traits of avian pathogenic (APEC) and fecal (AFEC) E. coli isolated from broiler chickens in Algeria

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the etiologic agent of avian colibacillosis, the most common disease responsible for chicken morbidity in the world. Although multiple virulence-associated factors were identified, their prevalence in Algeria is still poorly known. In the present research, 92 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolates were recovered from broilers with clinical signs and lesions of colibacillosis. In addition, 32 E. coli isolates collected from feces of healthy birds (AFEC) were included for comparison. All isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of a total of 11 virulence-associated genes described for avian pathogenic (iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, iutA, and fimC) and diarrheagenic E. coli (eae, stx, elt/est, ipaH, and aggR). The sensitivity of 39 APEC isolates to 16 antibiotics was also determined using antimicrobial pretreated microplates. Here, we report that 98% of the examined isolates host at least one of the tested virulence factors. The most prevalent genes in APEC were iutA (90.6%), ompT (86.9%), and iss (85.8%); whereas, iutA (78.1%), fimC (78.1%), and iroN (68.7%) were the highest prevalent genes in AFEC. Our data showed that none of the AFEC isolates harbor any of the tested diarrheagenic genes. Moreover, only elt/est (5.4%), stx (2.1%), and ipaH (2.1%) genes were carried by APEC isolates. We further established that ceftazodime, ceftiofur, mequindox, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and meropenem were the most efficient antibiotics against the analyzed APEC isolates. Overall, our findings provide more insights about APEC and AFEC virulence potential in Algeria which could participate in the fight against colibacillosis.

Serogrouping and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chicken with colibacillosis in center of Algeria

AIM

Colibacillosis is considered as one of the major bacterial infections in avian pathology. The excessive use of antibiotics reduced their effectiveness, which eventually led to the risk of emergence of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and serotype the pathogenic Escherichia coli strains and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 180 samples from different organs of broilers with colibacillosis lesions were collected (liver, spleen, lung, and heart) in center of Algeria. The isolation and identification of E. coli were carried out using conventional techniques. Then, these strains were serotyped and tested over 13 antibiotics.

RESULTS

A total of 156 strains of E. coli were isolated. Serotyping results showed that 50 strains belong to 3 serotypes (23 for O1, 11 for O2, 16 for O78) which represent 32% of isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility test, presented high level of resistance to tetracyclines (94.12%), flumequine (91.5%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (88.89%), enrofloxacin (86.27%), nalidixic acid (85.62%), ampicillin (83.01%) and doxycycline (75.81%), medium level resistance to chloramphenicol (39.22%), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (43.13%). All the strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, excepting three, which presented an extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). In addition, the results of multi-resistance showed that all the strains were resistant at the minimum to two antibiotics and 66.66% of strains were resistant to at least seven antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

The antibiotic resistance continues to rise at an alarming rate, and the emergence of ESBL is considered as a threat for public health.