Investigating the Antibiotic Resistance Pollution by Screening the Escherichia coli Isolates from Poultry Drinking Water and Bedding Material

Abstract

Antibiotics are considered as the promising way to combat bacterial infections. But it’s over usage contributes in the occurrence of unintended problems. Huge problems related to environment are inflicted with the release of antibiotics into the environment having great health impacts on humans and animals. Antibiotic resistant bacteria’s proliferation in poultry environment has been considered as the main public health related issue to be addressed. From all the species of antibiotics resistant bacteria, resistant E.coli is found with the ability to easily transferred to humans through various routes of exposures e.g. meat, milk and eggs consumption, handlers direct contact with animals in poultry farms, slaughter houses and poultry farm’s carcasses and through usage of contaminated soil, air and water resources. This research study is focused mainly on virulence and antibiotic resistance of E.coli isolates from poultry environment in which virulence analysis of E.coli and resistance patterns against different antibiotics is done. In vitro pathogenicity analysis and various procedures including antibiotic susceptibility pattern, ESBL production, AmpC detection are also performed. Against Phenicols, Macrolides and Penicillin, highest level of resistance has been reported in this research study. Previous exposure to antibiotics and development of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics are indicated by high Multiple Antibiotic Resistance index of the E. coli isolates. ESBL positive results are shown by most of the E.coli strains. This study reported all E. coli isolates as γ-hemolytic while most of these isolates showed positive Congo red binding activity and observed with different motility activities, biofilm formation and high growth in human urine. High resistance patterns and virulence associated with high resistance E.coli strains are reported in this study.