High Occurrence Rate of Multidrug-Resistant ESBL-Producing E. coli Recovered from Table Eggs in District Peshawar, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Whilst food-producing-animals could be a pool of resistance-conferring elements in the existing animal production system in Pakistan, the issue has not yet judiciously been highlighted. This study was conducted to determine incidence of extended spectrum β lactamase(ESBL) - producing Escherichia coli in table eggs and human with history of close association with table eggs. For this purpose, a total of 200 table eggs and 50 stool samples from human were analyzed. Results showed that out of 80 E. coli isolates recovered from eggs, 20(25%) were found to be ESBL-producers, while, of the 17 human-solates, 4(23.5%) were ESBL producers. PCR revealed that bla CTXM(bla CTXM-1 =15 and bla CTXM-9=4) was carried by all 22(91.6%) ESBL-producers with additional bla SHV2(n=12) and bla NDM-1(n=3), but no bla TEM was identified. A predominant combination of bla CTXM + bla SHV2(n=12) followed by bla CTXM + bla NDM-1(n=3) was determined. All these isolates(phylogroup D=14/24, A= 6/24 and B2=4/24) were found to be multidrug resistant displaying resistance against at least three different classes of antibiotics. Class 1 integron was carried by(21/24) followed by additional class 2 integron(15/24). A total of 8 isolates were harboring insertion sequence common region 1(ISCR1), which was found to be linked with bla CTXM in 50%(4/8) isolates. Results of the current study indicate contamination of eggs with ESBL-producing E. coli suggesting to improve hygienic process for end consumer during-egg production.