Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene of E. coli and Salmonella Kentucky Isolated from Turkeys in Egypt

This study aimed to determine the extent of possibility of apparently healthy turkeys being reservoirs for the pathogenic strains of E. coli and Salmonella kentucky. A total 150 cloacal swab samples from apparently healthy turkeys from Gharbia governorate, Egypt were investigated bacteriologically and biochemically. The overall prevalence of E. coli and Salmonella Kentucky were 55 (36.67%) and 4 (2.7%) respectively. The Congo red binding assay results revealed 10 pathogenic E. coli isolates out of 55 (18.18%). The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed E-coli and S.kentucky isolates were 100% resistant to β-Lactames (ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic, cefaclor and ceftazidime) while being 100% sensitive to Carbapenem (imipenem). E-coli and S.kentucky Isolates were 100% and 75% resistant to Phenicols (chloramphenicol), 60% and 75% resistant to Fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin), 50% and 50% resistant to Aminoglycoside (gentamicin) while being 10% and 25% resistant to Macrolides (azithromycin) respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied on E. coli and Salmonella isolates to detect resistance gene (blaTEM, blaOXA, floR, aadB and qnrA). All isolates were revealed to express these multi-drug resistant genes by (100%), (0%), (100%), (100%) and (0%) respectively. Our results concluded that turkeys could be a reservoir for resistant E. coli and Salmonella spp., resulting in economic and public health problems which require the development of strategies to reduce and control the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance especially in apparent health turkey flocks.