DETECTION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ESBL PRODUCING E. COLI ISOLATED FROM POULTRY DROPPINGS AND ITS ENVIRON.

Detection and molecular characterization of ESBL producing E. coli isolated from poultry droppings and its environ was investigated. Samples of poultry droppings (20), air (12), water (12) and soil (12) were collected from four randomly selected poultry farms within Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross-River State. The samples were processed and E. coli isolates were identified using Standard Microbiological Techniques. ESBL phenotypic detection was carried out using Double Disc Synergism Test (DDST) while molecular detection of TEM, SHV and CTX-M genes in the E. coli isolates was carried out using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results obtained revealed that 56 bacteria species were isolated from the samples, out of which 30 (53.57%) were E. coli while 12(21. 43%) were ESBL positive. A higher prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli was observed with samples of the poultry droppings (30%) as compared to that recorded with the air (8.33%), water (16.67%) and soil (25%) samples collected from the poultry farms. TEM, SHV, CTX-M, CTX-M-9 and CTX-M-15 genes were detected in 28.57%, 33.3%, 11.9%, 4.976% and 21.43% of the E. coli isolates while BLa OXA and CTX- M-2 genes were not present in the E. coli strains. However, the study has shown that ESBL producing E. coli circulate within poultry droppings and its environs. Hence, poultry farms are important source for ESBL-producing bacteria which causes difficult-to-treat infections in humans. Therefore, and integrated “one health” surveillance system becomes a necessity in monitoring transmission events and detection of resistant bacteria in a timely manner.