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ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND VIRULENCE FACTORS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI FROM BROILER CHICKENS SLAUGHTERED AT TIGONI PROCESSING PLANT IN LIMURU, KENYA.
Abstract
Background: Antibiotics and disinfectant use in broiler farms is a very common practice and an important risk factor for promoting the emergence, selection and spread of antimicrobial-resistant micro organisms in environment, veterinary and human medicine.
Objectives: To investigate multi-drug resistance and presence of virulence related genes in Escherichia coli isolates from healthy broiler chicken at slaughter time.
Design: Cross sectional and laboratory based study of virulence and drug resistance in E. coli
Setting: Tigoni processing plant, Limuru, Kenya.
Results: High resistance levels were detected for most commonly used drugs like tetracycline (75.9%) and cotrimoxazole (72.4%). Other antibiotics like ampicillin (39%), chloramphenicol (13.2%) and ciprofl oxacin (19%) recorded resistance levels although they are rarely used in poultry farming. One hundred and seventeen isolates showed resistance to two and more antibiotics. Different farm treatments were a signifi cant factor for multidrug resistance (p< 0.001). The E. coli isolates showed twenty-one different multidrug resistant patterns with tetracycline/cotrimoxazole being the most
common. Sixty samples were analyzed for virulence related genes using multiplex PCR. Seven virulence related genes were investigated but ten isolates were positive for verotoxin and three for intimin. Serotype 0111, 0126, 06 and 078 were positive for verotoxin, 0126 and 0111 were positive for intimin. There was no signifi cant relationship between virulence and multi-drug resistance (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study highlights the presence of multi-drug resistant and virulent E. coli among healthy broiler chicken in Kenya. The possible source of antibiotic resistance in the broilers is the use of recommended antibiotics which coselect resistance for other antibiotics. Surveillance for drug resistance pathogens in food products is recommended.
Objectives: To investigate multi-drug resistance and presence of virulence related genes in Escherichia coli isolates from healthy broiler chicken at slaughter time.
Design: Cross sectional and laboratory based study of virulence and drug resistance in E. coli
Setting: Tigoni processing plant, Limuru, Kenya.
Results: High resistance levels were detected for most commonly used drugs like tetracycline (75.9%) and cotrimoxazole (72.4%). Other antibiotics like ampicillin (39%), chloramphenicol (13.2%) and ciprofl oxacin (19%) recorded resistance levels although they are rarely used in poultry farming. One hundred and seventeen isolates showed resistance to two and more antibiotics. Different farm treatments were a signifi cant factor for multidrug resistance (p< 0.001). The E. coli isolates showed twenty-one different multidrug resistant patterns with tetracycline/cotrimoxazole being the most
common. Sixty samples were analyzed for virulence related genes using multiplex PCR. Seven virulence related genes were investigated but ten isolates were positive for verotoxin and three for intimin. Serotype 0111, 0126, 06 and 078 were positive for verotoxin, 0126 and 0111 were positive for intimin. There was no signifi cant relationship between virulence and multi-drug resistance (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study highlights the presence of multi-drug resistant and virulent E. coli among healthy broiler chicken in Kenya. The possible source of antibiotic resistance in the broilers is the use of recommended antibiotics which coselect resistance for other antibiotics. Surveillance for drug resistance pathogens in food products is recommended.
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