Virulence and antibiotic resistance profile of avian Escherichia coli strains isolated from colibacillosis lesions in central of Algeria

Abstract

Background and Aim: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli cause extensive mortality in poultry flocks, leading to extensive economic losses. To date, in Algeria, little information has been available on virulence potential and antibiotics resistance of avian E. coli isolates. Therefore, the aim of this study was the characterization of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance profile of Algerian E. coli strains isolated from diseased broilers. Materials and Methods: In this study, 43 avian E. coli strains isolated from chicken colibacillosis lesions at different years were analyzed to determine their contents in 10 virulence factors by polymerase chain reaction, antimicrobial susceptibility to 22 antibiotics belonging to six different chemical classes and genomic diversity by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: Mainly E. coli isolates (58.1%) carried two at six virulence genes and the most frequent virulence gene association detected were ompT (protectin), hlyF (hemolysin) with 55.8% (p<0.001), and iroN, sitA (iron acquisition/uptake systems), and iss (protectin) with 41.8% (p<0.001). Some strains were diagnosed as virulent according to their virulence gene profile. Indeed, 23.25% of the isolates harbored iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, and sitA combination, 14% ompT, hlyF, and frzorf4 (sugar metabolism), and 11,6% iroN, hlyF, ompT, iss, iutA (iron acquisition/uptake systems), and frzorf4. The chicken embryo lethality assay performed on five isolates confirmed the potential virulence of these strains. All isolates submitted to PFGE analysis yielded different genetic profiles, which revealed their diversity. Overall, 97.2% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 53.5% demonstrated multi-antimicrobial resistance to three different antimicrobial classes. The highest resistance levels were against nalidixic acid (83.4%), amoxicillin and ampicillin (83.3%), ticarcillin (80.5%), pipemidic acid (75%), and triméthoprim-sulfamethoxazole (66.6%). For beta-lactam class, the main phenotype observed belonged to broad-spectrum beta-lactamases. However, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase associated with three at six virulence factors was also detected in 13 isolates. Two of them were attested virulent as demonstrated in the embryo lethality test which constitutes a real public threat. Conclusion: It would be imperative in avian production to discourage misuse while maintaining constant vigilance guidelines and regulations, to limit and rationalize antimicrobial use.

Effects of in ovo probiotic administration on the incidence of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in broilers and an evaluation on its virulence and antimicrobial resistance properties

“…The virulence profile combinations of iroN, iss, ompT, hlyF (13.1%) and ompT, hlyF, iutA (9.7%) were the most common in this study. These results are consistent with those of Meguenni et al. (2019) and Li et al.…”

“…(2016) also reported that the virulence profile combination of iroN, iss, ompT, hlyF was the most prevalent pattern detected in 13.9% of strains. Our results also indicate that only 2.7% of APEC-like strains possessed all 5 genes ( iroN, iss, ompT, hlyF, and iutA ), which is lower than those previously reported ( Ahmed et al., 2013 ; Li et al., 2015 ; Meguenni et al., 2019 ). Li et al.…”

“…(2015) obtained a higher prevalence for all 5 genes from APEC strains isolated from broilers with colibacillosis in China, with a prevalence of 4.6%. In Algeria, 13.9% of the APEC strains isolated from visceral organs (liver, lungs, heart, and spleen) of diseased broilers were positive for all 5 APEC-related genes ( Meguenni et al., 2019 ). In Egypt, 71.4% of the APEC strains isolated from septicemic broilers carried 5 APEC virulence genes ( Ahmed et al., 2013 ).…”

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC): An Overview of Virulence and Pathogenesis Factors, Zoonotic Potential, and Control Strategies

“…Many antibiotics belonging to different classes, such as tetracyclines (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline), sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine, trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline, ormethoprim), aminoglycosides (apramycin, gentamicin, neomycin, spectinomycin), penicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin), cephalosporins (ceftiofur), quinolones (danofloxacin, sarafloxacin, enrofloxacin), polymyxins (colistin), chloramphenicols (florfenicol), macrolides (erythromycin), and lincosamides (lincomycin) have been used in poultry industry worldwide for the control of APEC infections [ 23 ]. However, APEC resistance to multiple antibiotics has been reported [ 32 , 34 , 35 , 51 , 53 , 54 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 107 , 108 , 108 , 146 , 147 , 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 , 167 , 168 , 169 , 170 , 171 , 172 ], which limits the use of these antibiotics and suggests a challenge ahead in using these antibiotics. Table 2 provides a summary of antibiotic resistance and resistance genes (mechanisms) reported worldwid...…”

Longitudinal monitoring of multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli on broiler chicken fattening farms in Shandong, China

“…Escherichia coli , a widespread pathogenic bacterium in humans and animals, causes a variety of diseases that are difficult to control and results in a large number of deaths in poultry populations, leading to significant economic losses in the poultry industry ( Wang et al., 2010 ; Meguenni et al., 2019 ; Gao et al., 2020 ; Kim et al., 2020 ; Song et al., 2020 ). In the poultry industry, antibiotics are the most common means used to treat and prevent E. coli infections ( Saliu et al., 2017 ; Roth et al., 2019a , b ).…”