INSIGHTS INTO VIRULENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PLASMID ASSOCIATED GENES OF ESBL ESCHERICHIA COLI ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS IN CHICKENS IN EGYPT.

Increasing the incidence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) among Enterobacteriaceae especially avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is of great concern to poultry industry. This study aimed to detect the prevalence and resistant profile of isolates showed ESBL activity among 100 E. coli isolates collected from hock joints in chickens (14-70 days old) with arthritis symptoms, from different chicken farms at EL-Gharbia Governorate in Egypt, in addition to, detect the incidence rates for selections of some virulence and antibiotic resistance plasmid associated genes using conventional PCR. A total 40 isolates were phenotypically identified as E. coli, with predominant (50%) O125 serotypes. All (100%) E. coli strains demonstrated a high level of multidrug resistance (MDR). Meanwhile, only 5 (12.5%) isolates were identified as ESBL producers based phenotypically on double disc synergy test and genotypically on screening for presence of β-lactamasesgenes. The ESBL isolates showed high resistance rates to β-lactam, aminoglycoside, tetracycline and quinolones antimicrobials, which could be explained by the presence of (100%) blaTEM, (100%) aadA, (80%) tetA and (20%) qnrS resistance genes, respectively. Regarding virulence genes, the result showed that only iss and ompA genes were detected in all isolates showed ESBL activity. The co-occurrence of these antibiotic resistance and virulence plasmid associated genes confirmed the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes by ESBL producing E. coli, which associated withincreased virulence. Thus, urgent intervention is needed to successfully control contamination with MDR isolates in Egypt especially in poultry and its products.