Study of Antibiotic Resistance on Escherichia Coli in Commercial Poultry of Nepal

Abstract

The continuous use of antibiotics in compound feed at sub-therapeutic level has been an integral part of commercial poultry production in Nepal, which is one of the factors that promotes bacterial resistance. Hence, with the objective to determine antibiotic resistance in commercial poultry of Nepal, this study was designed taking Escherichia coli as a flagship bacterium. The commercial layers and broilers birds brought to veterinary teaching hospital of Agriculture and Forestry University by commercial poultry producers for disease diagnosis and treatment were considered as clinical examination of birds were carried out followed by post mortem examination (PME). Those layer/broiler birds which were not taking antibiotic orally or parenterally for last 2 weeks and diagnosed with collibacillosis on PME were included in sampling frame. Air sacculitis, fibrinous pericarditis, fibrinous perihepatitis, and coligranuloma were major criteria for presumptive diagnosis of colibacillosis on PME. The first 40 for both broiler and layer birds totaling 80 that fulfilled the criteria were selected as samples, each representing a commercial farm. All necessary information on daily management practices and previous treatments were obtained from farmer's record book or sheets or face to face interview. Avian pathogenic E. coli was isolated from aseptically collected liver samples and confirmedby biochemical tests. Antibiogram of the isolates were investigated by means of Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. E. coli was isolated from all liver samples taken for the culture. It was found that E. coli were resistant most substantially towards Cephalexin (81.2%) and Amoxycillin (81.2%) followed by Tetracycline (78.8%), Colistin sulphate (n=50, 62.5%). Chloramphenicol (61.2%), Ciprofloxacin (55.0%), Enrofloxacin (53.8%), Levofloxacin (28.8%), however, no resistance was found against amikacin. The proportion of E. coli isolates that were resistance against Colistin sulphate (p<0.05), Chloramphenicol (p< 0.05), Tetracycline (p<0.001), Ciprofloxacin (p<0.01), Enrofloxacin (p<0.05) and Gentamicin (p<0.01) were significantly higher in layers compared to that of broilers. In conclusion, avian pathogenic E. coli were resistant towards several antibiotic molecules commonly used in commercial poultry of Nepal, and the resistance was higher in layers compared to broilers.

Detection of Plasmid-Mediated Colistin Resistant mcr-1 Gene in Escherichia coli Isolated from Infected Chicken Livers in Nepal

“…Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of E. coli in this study are consistent with previous studies reported from Bangladesh [47], the Netherlands [48] and Nepal [49]. While tetracycline was not in use as a treatment options against E. coli infections in poultry farms, high resistance seen towards this drug could be attributable to the misuse of tetracycline as growth promoters [46].…”

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Detection of Virulence-Associated Genes in Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Commercial Broilers

“…On the other hand, broilers had not developed this resistance. Resistance to amikacin was not detected in any of the samples [ 29 ]. The E. coli from broilers in our study showed resistance to gentamicin in 2.94% and to tobramycin in 1.96% of samples.…”

Antimicrobial resistance of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler, layer, and breeder chickens

“…The AMR also has an impact on the sustainable development goals, particularly those that address hunger, poverty, malnutrition, health, and economic growth [ 59 ]. Multiple antibiotics, including the most R AP and tetracycline, were used for the treatment and prevention of bacterial poultry disease at suboptimal levels, which may be the main cause of the high resistance rates in veterinary practice in Nepal [ 60 ]. The previous study also supports the marked increase in veterinary antibiotic sales in Nepal [ 61 ] in the past few years.…”