Multidrug resistant E. coli with zoonotic potentials isolated from poultry
The backyard poultry sector is a critical source of income and nutrition for rural communities in Bangladesh. However, poor biosecurity practices and regular close contact between poultry and household members in this traditional scavenging poultry farming system increase the risk of acquisition and cross-species transmission of pathogenic strains of E. coli. Furthermore, inadequate veterinary service and widespread misuse of antimicrobials increase favorable conditions for antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance. Pathogenic strains of E. coli often contain various virulence genes (e.g., stx1, stx2, eaeA, fimH, hlyF) that are responsible for causing severe infections across hosts. In addition, antimicrobial genes (blaTEM, blaCTXM, tetA, qnrS) further complicate the treatment and promote persistence and dissemination of resistant strains across diverse environments and hosts.