Unveiling the traits of antibiotic resistance and virulence in Escherichia coli obtained from poultry waste.

Antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) have become significant concerns, contributing to adverse environmental effects. The extensive use of antibiotics in poultry farming has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant APEC strains. This study prioritizes the molecular screening of APEC to uncover their antibiotic resistance and virulence attributes, with specific attention to their environmental impact. To address the imperative of understanding APEC pathogenesis, our study analyzed 50 poultry waste samples including 10 poultry litter, 15 fecal matter, 15 wastewater, and 10 anatomical waste samples. For the presence of virulence genes, 35 Escherichia coli isolates were subjected to molecular characterization. Amongst these, 27 were APEC strains demonstrating the presence of at least four virulence genes each. Notably, virulence genes such as fimH, ompA, ybjX, waaL, cvaC, hlyF, iss, ompT, and iroN were observed among all the E. coli isolates. Furthermore, eleven of the APEC strains exhibited resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, sulphonamides, and fluoroquinolones.These findings highlight the role of APEC as a potential source of environmental pollution serving as a reservoir for virulence and resistance genes. Understanding the dynamics of antibiotic resistance and virulence in APEC is essential due to its potential threat to broiler chickens and the broader population through the food chain, intensifying concerns related to environmental pollution. Recognizing the ecological impact of APEC is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate environmental pollution and safeguard the health of ecosystems and human populations.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): a sensitive molecular tool for detection of Staphylococcus aureus in meat and dairy product.

Staphylococcus aureus-mediated food poisoning is a primary concern worldwide. The presence of the organism in food is an indicative of poor sanitation during production, and it is essential to have efficient methods for detecting this pathogen. A novel molecular diagnostic technique called loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) serves as a rapid and sensitive detection method, which amplifies nucleic acids at isothermal conditions. In this study, a LAMP-based diagnostic assay was developed to detect Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using two target genes femA and arcC. The optimum reaction temperature was found to be 65 °C and at 60 °C for femA and arcC genes, respectively. The developed assay specifically amplified DNA from S. aureus, not from other related bacterial species and compared to PCR, and a 100-fold higher sensitivity was observed. Furthermore, the LAMP assay could detect the pathogen from food samples mainly meat and dairy samples when analyzed in both intact and enriched conditions. Thirteen samples were found positive for S. aureus with LAMP showing a greater number of positive samples in comparison to PCR. This study established a highly sensitive and a rapid diagnostic procedure for the detection and surveillance of this major foodborne pathogen.