Detection and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enteropathogenic (EPEC) and Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) in Conventional and Organic Broiler Chickens

Enteropatogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC), are generally poultry and poultry product isolate and can cause serious human infections. Many strains may become resistant to various antimicrobials, which can hinder the treatment of bacterial diseases. Organic farming seeks to avoid the selection and frequency of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aims to verify the resistance of EPEC and STEC from organic and conventional (industrial) broiler isolates to antimicrobials. All isolates were submitted to disk diffusion test with tetracycline, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin + clavulanate (TET, GEN, ENO, CTX, AMC) and PCR to detect specific virulence genes for EPEC and STEC. A total of 297 E. coli strains were isolated, 213 from conventional. In organic broiler, 84 strains were isolated. The strains from the conventional broiler isolates were resistant to five antimicrobials tested: TET 48.82% (104/213), ENO 28.17% (60/213), CTX 15.49% (33/213), GEN 14.55% (31/213), and AMC 7.04% (15/213), and 9.86% (21/213) were considered multidrug-resistant. Organic chicken strains were resistant to four of the antimicrobials tested: TET 35.7% (30/84), ENO 9.5% (8/84), CTX 2.4% (2/84), GEN 4.8% (4/84). Of the strains from the organic broiler chicken isolates, only 1.2% (1/84) was considered multidrug-resistant. No EPEC and STEC were found in the organic chicken samples. The multidrug resistance was characterized in 9.52% (2/21) of the EPEC and 4.76% (1/21) of the STEC. The study demonstrated the absence of EPEC and STEC strains in organic broilers and carcasses and a lower frequency of multiresistant strains compared to conventional breeding.(AU)

Comparative Study on the Predominance of Lactobacillus spp. and Escherichia Coli in Healthy vs Colibacillosis Diseased Broilers

This study aims to identify relative proportions of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the gut of broilers and risk factors that may be contributing to the development of colibacillosis disease in broiler farms of District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. For this, 10 healthy and 10 colibacillosis affected broiler farms were surveyed for ileum and blood sample collection along with data regarding farm management, antibiotic use and hygiene practices. Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli number was estimated using Miles and Misra method and colibacillosis was confirmed by Congo red dye assay. Lactobacillus and E. coli were identified biochemically. For risk factors analysis chi-square analysis was performed to find any significant association between the health status of the farm and risk factors. Results showed during disease and healthy conditions Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli counts differ significantly (p<0.05). E. coli counts (106-108 to 107-109) increased (p<0.05) about three folds and Lactobacillus counts decrease (106-108 to 105-107) about four folds in disease conditions. Risk factor analysis showed colibacillosis disease was significantly associated (p<0.05) with non-vaccinated flocks, natural ventilation systems, rodent presence and the lack of outfit disinfection or change by workers when moving between different houses. It is concluded that E. coli and Lactobacillus work antagonistically to each other. However, further research is necessary to determine the exact mechanisms by which E. coli and Lactobacillus influence the development of colibacillosis. While Lactobacillus as probiotic may help with prevention, good hygiene and management practices are still crucial in preventing the spread of disease.(AU)

Retrospective study of bacterial agents found in urine culture of dogs: antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance profile / Estudo retrospectivo de agentes bacterianos observados na urocultura de cães: perfil de sensibilidade e resistência antimicrobiana

Urinary tract infections are commonly diagnosed in dogs, accounting for 2 to 3% of cases in the clinical routine, as cystitis being the most reported condition. Dogs of all ages and breeds can be affected, and early diagnosis is an important tool for therapeutic success. Urine culture and antibiogram are gold-standard tests for the diagnosis of bacterial cystitis, allowing correct therapy and better recovery of the patient, since currently there is great resistance to antimicrobials used in the veterinary clinics. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the main etiological agents isolated in dog urine cultures, as well as the resistance and sensitivity profile of the isolated agents in relation to antibiotics, in order to assist the clinician ́s choice of the most appropriate antimicrobial, aiming at the patient's therapeutic success. For this study, a retrospective study was performed of 49 samples of urine cultures of male and female dogs, collected between 2012 and 2021, which were positive for bacterial growth. From this analysis, it was observed that Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were the most isolated agents, presenting higher antimicrobial resistance to cephalexin, sulfadiazine plus trimethoprim, ampicillin, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively.(AU)

s infecções do trato urinário são comumente diagnosticadas em cães, representando de 2 a 3% dos casos na rotina clínica, sendo a cistite a afecção mais relatada. Cães de todas as idades e raças podem ser acometidos, sendo o diagnóstico precoce uma ferramenta importante para o sucesso terapêutico. A urocultura e o antibiograma são exames padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico das cistites bacterianas, permitindo a terapêutica correta e melhor recuperação do paciente, já que atualmente há grande resistência aos antimicrobianos empregados na rotina clínica veterinária. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar os principais agentes etiológicos isolados nas uroculturas de cães, bem como o perfil de resistência e sensibilidade dos agentes isolados frente aos antibióticos, de modo a auxiliar o médico veterinário na eleição do antimicrobiano mais adequado, visando sucesso terapêutico do paciente. Para realização deste estudo foi feita uma análise retrospectiva de 49 uroculturas de cães machos e fêmeas, coletadas entre os anos de 2012 e 2021, as quais apresentaram crescimento bacteriano positivo. A partir desta análise foi observado que Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. e Staphylococcus spp. foram os agentes mais isolados nas uroculturas, apresentando maior resis-tência aos antimicrobianos cefalexina, sulfazotrim ampicilina, enrofloxacina e ciprofloxacina, respectivamente.(AU)