Insights on Escherichia coli Contamination in Egyptian Poultry: High Levels of Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Abstract

This study aims to assess the prevalence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in poultry products and investigate the distribution of key virulence and antibiotic resistance genes within these isolates. Chicken breasts, liver, gizzards, wings, skeletons, cloaca, and skin were among the examined seventy poultry samples; that was collected from different supermarkets and grocery stores located in El-Gharbia Governorate, Egypt, during the period from 2023 to 2024. The phoA gene was the target of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to identify E. coli, and all samples tested positive for the bacteria. Moreover, it was applied to investigate the antibiotic resistance genes including tetracycline resistance A (tetA), mobilized colistin resistance 1 (mcr1), and aminoglycoside acetyltransferase 3 (acc3). Among the virulence genes (overall prevalence: 76.28%), papC (100%), eaeA (96.15%), Iss (92.3%), tsh (73.07%), and Stx1 (96.15%) exhibited the highest prevalence, while Stx2 was not detected in all positive collected samples. For antibiotic resistance genes (overall prevalence: 53.84%), tetA (88.46%) and acc3 (53.84%) were the most prevalent, while mcr1 was identified in 19.23% of the isolates. These findings emphasize the potential health risks associated with E. coli-contaminated poultry and highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to ensure food safety.