1Department
of Medicine, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100,
Bangladesh; 2Department of Anatomy and Histology, Sylhet
Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh; 3Department
of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box
960, Asir, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of
Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman
University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; 5Department
of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Animal Science and
Veterinary Medicine, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh; 6Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh;
7Department of Pathology, Sylhet Agricultural University,
Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding author:
mahfuj.vetmed@.sau.ac.bd
Abstract
Multi-drug resistant-Shiga
toxin producing Escherichia coli (MDR-STEC), poses considerable health risks for
human, animals and birds. Migratory and captive wild birds are known carriers of
this pathogen.
This study aimed to investigate prevalence of MDR-STEC along with its associated
virulence genes from migratory and captive wild birds in Bangladesh. A total of
247 fecal specimens were obtained from both migratory (119) and captive wild
birds (128) for the isolation and characterization of E. coli.
Standard microbiological and biochemical methods were used for identification
and
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed for confirmation of
E. coli
isolates followed by disc diffusion method to determine antibiotic
susceptibility. The overall E. coli prevalence was 80.97% (200/247; 95%
CI: 75.51-85.67), with a prevalence of 77.31% (92/119) in migratory birds and
84.38% (108/128) in captive wild birds.
Among the 200 E. coli isolates, 53
(26.5%; 95% CI: 20.5-33.2) were identified as multidrug-resistant (MDR), with
21.7% (20/92) of MDR isolates originating from migratory birds and 30.6%
(33/108) from captive wild birds.
Only 24 (12%) isolates were positive for virulent gene stx2 whereas 167
(83.50%) isolates were positive for fimC. Among the β-lactamase resistant
genes, blaTEM (91.50%; 183/200) was found significantly (p<0.0001)
higher than blaSHV (9.00%;
18/200).
Among the antimicrobial resistant genes, 175 (87.50%) isolates were found
positive for qnrS resistant gene. E. coli isolates of birds
exhibited diverse phenotypic AMR patterns, with complete (100%) resistance to
several antibiotics (ampicillin, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, and tetracycline)
while being entirely sensitive to others (ceftriaxone, amikacin and aztreonam).
This research underscores the concerning prevalence of E. coli strains
having various virulent genes and resistant to multiple drugs among the wild
birds. It emphasizes the immediate requirement for bridging wildlife and public
health domains to address the threats posed by the antibiotic-resistant
pathogens.
To Cite This Article:
Rahman A, Chowdhury Md.SR, Hossain H, Elsaid FG, Almutairi LA, Begum R, Sabrin
MS, Akanda Md.R, Hossain Md.M, Islam Md.R, Rahman Md.M, Rahman Md.M, 2024.
Identification of virulence genes and multidrug resistance in Shiga-toxin
producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from migratory and captive wild birds.
Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.264