Antibiotic Resistance and its Gene Profile in
Escherichia coli Isolated
from Diseased Farm-Raised Carps in Punjab, Pakistan
Mati Ullah1, Fayyaz Rasool2, Noor Khan3,
Shahzad Ali4 and Ali Ahmad Sheikh5
1Department
of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Wildlife,
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600,
Pakistan; 2Department of Zoology, Faisalabad Campus,
University of Education Lahore 54600, Pakistan; 3Institute
of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54600, Pakistan; 4Department
of Wildlife and Ecology, Faculty of Fisheries and Wildlife,
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600,
Pakistan; 5Institute of Microbiology, University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
fayyaz.rasool@ue.edu.pk
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has become alarming to public
health. The present study aimed to investigate the multi-drug resistance (MDR)
of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in farm-raised fish. A total of 216 diseased fish samples
from different fish farms were screened for
E. coli. Molecular confirmation was
done with Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using
uspA gene. All the positive
E. coli isolates were subjected to
eight different antibiotics. Antimicrobial sensitivity was performed via the
Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Antibiotic resistance genes;
blaSHV
blaTEM, blaCTX-M, tet(A),
tet(B),
erm (A), erm (B),
erm (C),
vga (A), str(A),
str(B), aadA1 and aac (3)-I were
examined. A total of 79 (36.57%) E. coli
was confirmed through PCR. Antibacterial susceptibility test showed 86.1% of
isolates were highly resistant towards oxytetracycline and 22.7% of isolates
were sensitive against azithromycin, respectively. Results for all antimicrobial
agents were highly significant p<0.01, except streptomycin. Phenotypic
multi-drug resistant (MDR) was documented against 8 different antibiotics. About
7.59% of isolates stood resistant against eight different antibiotics. The
higher prevalence for blaCTX-M
was 86.07%, tetA 91.13%,
and ermB 69.62% while for strA
75.94% was recorded. While blaSHV,
ermA, and vga(A) genes
were not detected. All isolates were recorded for genotypic MDR. About 10.12% of
isolates were sustained for ten different antibiotic resistance genes. The
results for antibiotic susceptibility and resistance genes pattern in the
present study have provided a valuable check and balance in term of unhygienic
practices and the misuse of antimicrobial agents.
To Cite This Article:
Ullah M, Rasool F, Khan N, Ali S, Sheikh AA, 2023. Antibiotic resistance and its gene profile in
Escherichia coli isolated from
diseased farm-raised carps in Punjab, Pakistan.
Pak Vet J, 43(3): 470-476. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2023.041