Some extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates (ExPEC), obtained from humans and chickens avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), share similar virulence genes. Thus, products of avian origin can be a source of human infection. Moreover, these APEC isolates are resistant to antimicrobials and can spread in the environment through the chicken feces. Although the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms in poultry is on the rise, healthcare entities have raised concerns since MDRs can horizontally transfer resistance genes to other microorganisms and complicate the management of human infections by MDR APEC. The results of our study showed that of 80 investigated spiced chicken meat samples, 55% were contaminated with E. coli, of which 34% (15/44) contaminate with APEC. No diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes were found. Twenty-six isolates were MDR E. coli. Among the APEC isolates, 87% (13/15) produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). The emergence of MDR/ESBL-producing APEC with zoonotic potential for humans is extremely worrying. Therefore, further studies are required to identify the prevalence of MDR/ESBL-producing APEC in the entire chicken production chain from creation, slaughter, processing, and butchery.
Keywords: E. coli (all potentially pathogenic types); antibiotics; antimicrobials; food safety; microbial contamination.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.