M. Amir - Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY ۱۴۸۵۳, USA
M. Riaz - Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan ۶۰۸۰۰, Pakistan
Y.-F. Chang - Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY ۱۴۸۵۳, USA
A. Ismail - Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan ۶۰۸۰۰, Pakistan
A. Hameed - Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H۹X ۳V۹, Canada (UK)
M. Ahsin - National Institute of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad ۳۸۰۰۰, Pakistan

Background: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) strains are predominant cause of gastrointestinal tract illnesses. The main objective of the study was to determine antibiotic resistance in various types of DEC isolated from chicken broilers farmed in Pakistan. Methods: A total of ۲۰۰ feces and ۲۰۰ meat samples from broiler chickens were collected from the slaughtering shops in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The confirmed fecal (n=۱۵۰) and meat (n=۱۵۰) E. coli isolates were investigated against ۱۶ antibiotics. Fourteen virulence genes specific for Enteropathogenic (EPEC), Shiga Toxin-producing (STEC), Enteroinvasive (EIEC), Enteroaggregative (EAEC), and Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) E. coli were identified using Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results: EPEC was the most detected pathotype in both feces (۷۶%) and meat (۹۰%) samples, followed by STEC, EIEC, and ETEC. The highest resistance (۴۰-۹۰%) was observed against penicillin, oxytetracycline, and nalidixic acid in fecal isolates. More than ۵۰% EPEC and EAEC fecal isolates, and ۶۰% EAEC meat isolates were simultaneously resistant to ۶ or more antibiotics. Conclusion: Conclusively, the broiler meat sold in open markets of Pakistan was considerably contaminated with multi-drug resistant DEC. To mitigate the issue, the government should regulate the use of antibiotics at poultry farms and monitor slaughtering practices in slaughterer houses. DOI: ۱۰.۱۸۵۰۲/jfqhc.۸.۲.۶۴۷۲

Escherichia coli, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Poultry, Pakistan