Antimicrobial resistance profiles and virulence factors of Escherichia coli O157 collected from a poultry processing plant

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the presence ofEscherichia coliO157 and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility ofisolates in different poultry-originated materials. In total 300 samples of chicken carcass swabs (n = 50), chicken feces (n = 50), gizzard(n = 50), liver (n = 50), water in the final scald tank (n = 50), and equipment such as tables, conveyers, and knives (n = 50) were used asmaterials. Overall, 45E. coliisolates were obtained from the 300 poultry samples. However, 13 (4.3%) of the samples were identified asE. coliO157 including 3 liver, 3 carcass, and 7 fecal samples. All 13 isolates were positive for O157 but negative for H7 using PCR. Onlyintimin (encoded byeae A gene) was detected in 10E. coliO157 isolates while no other virulence factors (enterohemolysin A, shiga toxin1 and 2) were detected. AllE. coliO157 isolates were susceptible to gentamicin (100%). In conclusion, the presence ofE. coliO157 inpoultry is of utmost significance (4.3%) and our results demonstrated that poultry carcasses and giblets may be contaminated byE. coli O157 with feces during evisceration. To preventE. coliO157 infections, hygiene rules must be tightly observed. In addition, antibioticuse must be controlled for avoiding increased antibiotic resistance.