Identification and Molecular Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia Coli Strains From Poultry Farm in Kerala

Abstract

The steepened rise in population contributed to a heightened demand for livestock products, especially poultry products. The scenario surged the extensive use of antibiotics in poultry industry for enhanced production, and to address the growing demand. The utilization of antibiotics as growth enhancers and immunity boosters for fowls, gradually contributed to the evolution of antibiotics resistant bacterial strains including Escherichia Coli.  The increasing number of antibiotic-resistant genes acquired via horizontal gene transfer contributed significantly to the increased antibiotic resistance in Escherichia Coli. Currently, this scenario is considered one of the major challenges confronting human health globally. In addition to causing grave health consequences, the bacteria serves as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant genes that may lead to treatment failures for several diseases in both humans and animals. The current situation necessitates extensive research to identify novel strains and to explore the factors that promote antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains. The present study attempts to demonstrate the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of genetically novel Escherichia coli isolated from litter samples collected from poultry farms situated at Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. Multi Drug Resistance strains of E. coli strain were identified and the draft assembly was submitted to GenBank.