Molecular Identification and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Escherichia Coli Isolated from Broilers Poultry Farms in Khartoum State

Abstract

Escherichia coli (E. coli) from broilers are the main cause of the economic losses in the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize E. coli from broilers chickens in Bahri locality in Khartoum state and to elucidate their antimicrobial resistance profile. A total of 100 random cloacal and fecal samples were collected in the period of July to September 2018 from broilers farms in Bahri locality. The biochemical method identified 50 samples at E. coli. This 50 samples were further subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 16SrRNA gene that identified 20 isolates at E. coli. Concerning the antibiotic resistance profile, 16 isolates out of the 20 isolates demonstrated resistance to Erythromycin and Clarithromycin with resistance percentages of 80% for each. Also only 3 isolates demonstrated susceptibility to Azithromycin (15%) while 17 isolates demonstrated resistance to Azithromycin (85%). In general the isolates demonstrated resistance to macrolides with resistance percentage ranges between 80 to 85%. In case of the Tetracycline, the isolates also showed resistance percentage of 80%. The isolates showed moderate resistance to the Ciprofloxacin since 9 isolates showed susceptibility to the Ciprofloxacin (55% resistance). It is noteworthy that according to the number of isolates the prevalence of E. coli in this study was found to be 20%. Taken together, distinct from the other studies conducted in Khartoum State, this study used the molecular characterization method (PCR) for identification of the isolates as E. coli which is considered as an accurate and sensitive mean. Moreover the isolates exhibited antibiotic resistance patterns to the tested antibiotics which may raise the imprudent use of antibiotics in broilers industry.