Molecular Characterization of Virulence Genes among MDR and XDR Avian Pathogenic E. coli

Abstract

One of the most costly diseases is avian colibacillosis. Virulence genes determine E. coli pathogenicity. This study was undertaken to explore the existence of some virulence-associated genes and resistant configurations of Escherichia coli recovered from broiler chicks. Thirteen E. coli isolates were exposed to an investigation of antimicrobial susceptibility profile against 17 antimicrobial agents that exhibited the highest resistance found against amoxicillin, florfenicol, penicillin, amoxicillin clavulanate, tetracycline, meropenem, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and chloramphenicol in the percentage of 100%, 100%,100%, 92.3%, 76.9%, 69.2%, 61.5%, and 61.5%, respectively while the isolates exhibited highest sensitivity found to fosfomycin, imipenem, azetronam and ciprofloxacine in the percentage of 100%,92.3%,76.9% and 69.2%, respectively. Moreover, the thirteen E. coli isolates were exposed to the revealing of some virulence genes (iss, omp-T, hlyF, iroN, iuta, iucD, papC, cva, astA, tsh, and irp2) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the percentages rates were 84.6, 76.9, 76.9, 76.9, 61.5, 53.8, 38.4, 30.7, 23, 15.3 and 15.3%, respectively. A significant correlation between most antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes and virulence genes in E. coli isolates. Antimicrobial use in chickens should be reasonable to prevent antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, according to our findings.