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In poultry, Escherichia coli infections lead to substantial deaths and financial losses for producers each year. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of E. coli from water pipes and drinkers in broiler farms, to characterize the isolated E. coli strains in terms of serotypes, biofilm production degree, presence of the adrA gene. The gene “adrA” encodes for the adhesion regulating protein A. adrA is a protein that plays a role in regulating the adhesion and biofilm formation of E. coli bacteria., and the efficacy of various disinfectants on E. coli biofilms. A total of 100 swab samples were collected from drinking water pipes and drinkers from different broiler farms in Giza and Dakahlia governorates in Egypt. Out of them, 18 E. coli serogroups were identified in 50 positive samples, and the most predominant serogroup was O91, which showed the highest incidence (20%), followed by serotypes O78 (18%), and O26 (8%). Microtiter-plate test for determination of biofilm production for 50 E. coli isolates were performed. PCR was done for the detection of the virulence gene adrA in the 13 strong biofilm E. coli isolates, and the results revealed that 100% were positive for the virulence gene. The effect of disinfectants on E. coli was studied by using ZnO nanoparticles, acidifiers, and quaternary ammonium dioxide. This study found a high prevalence of E. coli in water samples, identified various E. coli serotypes, observed biofilm production, and determined the effectiveness of different disinfectants on E. coli isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public health importance of the genus Campylobacter is attributed to several species causing diarrhea in consumers. Poultry and their meat are considered the most important sources of human campylobacteriosis. In this study, 287 samples from chicken (131 cloacal swabs, 39 chicken skin, 78 chicken meat, and 39 cecal parts) obtained from retail outlets as well as 246 stool swabs from gastroenteritis patients were examined. A representative number of the biochemically identified Campylobacter jejuni isolates were identified by real-time PCR, confirming the identification of the isolates as C. jejuni. Genotyping of the examined isolates ( n = 31) by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR) revealed a high discriminatory index of ERIC-PCR ( D = 0.948), dividing C. jejuni isolates of chicken and human origins into 18 profiles and four clusters. The 18 profiles obtained indicated the heterogeneity of C. jejuni. Dendrogram analysis showed that four clusters were generated; all human isolates fell into clusters I and III. These observations further support the existence of a genetic relationship between human and poultry isolates examined in the present study. In conclusion, the results obtained support the speculation that poultry and poultry meat have an important role as sources of infection in the acquisition of Campylobacter infection in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci- and ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from milk of bovine mastitis cases in Egypt. Fifty milk samples of dairy animals were collected from localities in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the broth microdilution method. PCR amplifications were carried out, targeting resistance-associated genes. Seventeen Enterococcus isolates and eight coliform isolates could be cultivated. Vancomycin resistance rate was high in Ent. faecalis. The VITEK 2 system confirmed all E. coli isolates as ESBL-producing. All Ent. faecalis isolates harbored erm(B), tetL and aac-aphD genes. The vanA gene was detected in Ent. faecalis isolate, vanB was found in other Enterococcus, while one isolate of E. casseliflavus exhibited the vanA gene. E. coli isolates exhibited high prevalence of erm(B) and tetL. E. coli isolates were analyzed by DNA microarray analysis. Four isolates were determined by O-serotyping as O8 (n = 1), O86 (n = 2) and O157 (n = 1). H-serotyping resulted in H11, H12, H21 (two isolates each) and one was of H16 type. Different virulence-associated genes were detected in E. coli isolates including lpfA, astA, celB, cmahemL, intI1 and intI2, and the iroN gene was identified by DNA microarray analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an ESKAPE pathogen that can quickly develop resistance to most antibiotics. This bacterium is a zoonotic pathogen that can be found in humans, animals, foods, and environmental samples, making it a One-Health concern. P. aeruginosa threatens the poultry industry in Egypt, leading to significant economic losses. However, the investigation of this bacterium using NGS technology is nearly non-existent in Egypt. In this study, 38 isolates obtained from broiler farms of the Delta region were phenotypically investigated, and their genomes were characterized using whole genome sequencing (WGS). The study found that 100% of the isolates were resistant to fosfomycin and harbored the fos A gene. They were also resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, although only one isolate harbored the sul 1 gene. Non-susceptibility (resistant, susceptible with increased dose) of colistin was observed in all isolates. WGS analysis revealed a high level of diversity between isolates, and MLST analysis allocated the 38 P. aeruginosa isolates into 11 distinct sequence types. The most predominant sequence type was ST267, found in 13 isolates, followed by ST1395 in 8 isolates. The isolates were susceptible to almost all tested antibiotics carrying only few different antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Various AMR genes that confer resistance mainly to ß-lactam, aminoglycoside, sulfonamide, and phenicol compounds were identified. Additionally, several virulence associated genes were found without any significant differences in number and distribution among isolates. The majority of the virulence genes was identified in almost all isolates. The fact that P. aeruginosa , which harbors several AMR and virulence-associated factors, is present in poultry farms is alarming and threatens public health. The misuse of antimicrobial compounds in poultry farms plays a significant role in resistance development. Thus, increasing awareness and implementing strict veterinary regulations to guide the use of veterinary antibiotics is required to reduce health and environmental risks. Further studies from a One-Health perspective using WGS are necessary to trace the potential transmission routes of resistance between animals and humans and clarify resistance mechanisms. • WGS analysis of 38 P. aeruginosa isolated from poultry revealed a high level of genetic diversity between isolates. • MLST analysis allocated the isolates into 11 distinct sequence types and ST267 was the most predominant. • Non-susceptibility was very high to fosfomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and colistin. • Isolates were susceptible to almost all tested antibiotics despite carrying different antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. • Various AMR genes that confer resistance mainly to ß-lactam, aminoglycoside, sulfonamide, and phenicol compounds were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]