Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms
ABSTRACT Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes significant economic and welfare concerns to the broiler industry. For several decades, prophylactic supplementation of antimicrobial growth promoters was the primary method to control APEC; however, the recent shift to no antibiotics ever (NA...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/Spectrum.00834-21 |
| _version_ | 1818973857851113472 |
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| author | Courtney A. Fancher Hudson T. Thames Mary Gates Colvin Mercedes Smith Alyssa Easterling Nikhil Nuthalapati Li Zhang Aaron Kiess Thu T. N. Dinh Anuraj Theradiyil Sukumaran |
| author_facet | Courtney A. Fancher Hudson T. Thames Mary Gates Colvin Mercedes Smith Alyssa Easterling Nikhil Nuthalapati Li Zhang Aaron Kiess Thu T. N. Dinh Anuraj Theradiyil Sukumaran |
| author_sort | Courtney A. Fancher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes significant economic and welfare concerns to the broiler industry. For several decades, prophylactic supplementation of antimicrobial growth promoters was the primary method to control APEC; however, the recent shift to no antibiotics ever (NAE) production has increased colibacillosis incidence. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of season, flock age, and sample type on the prevalence and virulence of E. coli and to identify the serogroups and antimicrobial susceptibility of virulent and nonvirulent E. coli in NAE broiler farms. Litter, feces, cloacal swabs, and tracheal swabs were collected from 4 NAE farms during spring and summer seasons, and E. coli was isolated and confirmed by PCR. Confirmed E. coli isolates were tested for 5 APEC-virulence-associated genes (VAGs) using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Further, E. coli isolates with all five VAGs (100 isolates) and E. coli isolates without any VAGs (87 isolates) were screened against 11 antimicrobials through Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay, and their serogroups were tested using PCR. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4, and statistical significance was determined at a P value of ≤0.05. Overall, the prevalence of E. coli was not affected by season, flock age, or sample type. However, the prevalence of all tested VAGs decreased from spring to summer (P ≤ 0.002). The frequency of resistance was highest for tetracycline, and serogroups O8 (31%) and O78 (11%) were most frequent in virulent E. coli. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of virulent E. coli in NAE farms, especially in the spring season. IMPORTANCE Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli causes one of the most detrimental bacterial diseases to the United States poultry industry, colibacillosis. Colibacillosis leads to decreased performance, early mortality, and subsequent production loss. Previously, colibacillosis was largely mitigated by the use of antimicrobial growth promoters. Due to concerns about antimicrobial resistance, the use of these promoters has been largely removed from the broiler industry. With recent shifts in the poultry industry to NAE broiler production, there is an increase in bacterial disease and mortality. We do not know how this shift to NAE affects APEC prevalence within broiler farms. Therefore, in the current study, we attempted to assess the prevalence and virulence of E. coli within an antibiotic-free broiler environment, assessed antimicrobial susceptibility, and identified the serogroups of virulent and nonvirulent E. coli. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:30:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55ec53a0571f4cbba3d8ae2a6011be2d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:30:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-55ec53a0571f4cbba3d8ae2a6011be2d2022-12-21T19:35:36ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972021-12-019310.1128/Spectrum.00834-21Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler FarmsCourtney A. Fancher0Hudson T. Thames1Mary Gates Colvin2Mercedes Smith3Alyssa Easterling4Nikhil Nuthalapati5Li Zhang6Aaron Kiess7Thu T. N. Dinh8Anuraj Theradiyil Sukumaran9Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USADepartment of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USADepartment of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USAVirginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia, USAUniversity of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USADepartment of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USADepartment of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USAPrestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USADepartment of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USAABSTRACT Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes significant economic and welfare concerns to the broiler industry. For several decades, prophylactic supplementation of antimicrobial growth promoters was the primary method to control APEC; however, the recent shift to no antibiotics ever (NAE) production has increased colibacillosis incidence. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of season, flock age, and sample type on the prevalence and virulence of E. coli and to identify the serogroups and antimicrobial susceptibility of virulent and nonvirulent E. coli in NAE broiler farms. Litter, feces, cloacal swabs, and tracheal swabs were collected from 4 NAE farms during spring and summer seasons, and E. coli was isolated and confirmed by PCR. Confirmed E. coli isolates were tested for 5 APEC-virulence-associated genes (VAGs) using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Further, E. coli isolates with all five VAGs (100 isolates) and E. coli isolates without any VAGs (87 isolates) were screened against 11 antimicrobials through Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay, and their serogroups were tested using PCR. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4, and statistical significance was determined at a P value of ≤0.05. Overall, the prevalence of E. coli was not affected by season, flock age, or sample type. However, the prevalence of all tested VAGs decreased from spring to summer (P ≤ 0.002). The frequency of resistance was highest for tetracycline, and serogroups O8 (31%) and O78 (11%) were most frequent in virulent E. coli. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of virulent E. coli in NAE farms, especially in the spring season. IMPORTANCE Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli causes one of the most detrimental bacterial diseases to the United States poultry industry, colibacillosis. Colibacillosis leads to decreased performance, early mortality, and subsequent production loss. Previously, colibacillosis was largely mitigated by the use of antimicrobial growth promoters. Due to concerns about antimicrobial resistance, the use of these promoters has been largely removed from the broiler industry. With recent shifts in the poultry industry to NAE broiler production, there is an increase in bacterial disease and mortality. We do not know how this shift to NAE affects APEC prevalence within broiler farms. Therefore, in the current study, we attempted to assess the prevalence and virulence of E. coli within an antibiotic-free broiler environment, assessed antimicrobial susceptibility, and identified the serogroups of virulent and nonvirulent E. coli.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/Spectrum.00834-21APECbroilervirulenceantimicrobial susceptibilitycolibacillosisEscherichia coli |
| spellingShingle | Courtney A. Fancher Hudson T. Thames Mary Gates Colvin Mercedes Smith Alyssa Easterling Nikhil Nuthalapati Li Zhang Aaron Kiess Thu T. N. Dinh Anuraj Theradiyil Sukumaran Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms Microbiology Spectrum APEC broiler virulence antimicrobial susceptibility colibacillosis Escherichia coli |
| title | Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms |
| title_full | Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms |
| title_short | Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in “No Antibiotics Ever” Broiler Farms |
| title_sort | prevalence and molecular characteristics of avian pathogenic escherichia coli in no antibiotics ever broiler farms |
| topic | APEC broiler virulence antimicrobial susceptibility colibacillosis Escherichia coli |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/Spectrum.00834-21 |
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