Molecular detection and prevalence of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli in poultry and humans: a one health perspective.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria significantly threaten humans and animals worldwide. Colistin is the last resort of antibiotics against gram-negative bacterial infections. Its irrational use in poultry is a major factor in transmitting MDR bacteria to humans. The present study investigated the risk factors, prevalence, and molecular detection of colistin resistance associated with poultry and humans. A total of (n = 140) cloacal swabs from chickens and human stool samples (n = 140) were processed to identify E. coli using conventional methods, followed by genotypic confirmation. Phenotypic and genotypic confirmation of antibiotic resistance genes qnrA, blaTEM, tetA, aadA, and mcr genes was performed on these E. coli isolates. These isolates were confirmed at 69.3% and 62.8% in chickens and humans, respectively. Limited education and poor hygiene significantly increased the infection rate (p = 0.0001). The E. coli isolates from commercial poultry showed 100% resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 98.9% to ampicillin, and 93.8% to tetracycline. The E. coli isolates from humans exhibited 90% resistance to ciprofloxacin, 88% to ampicillin, and 85% to ceftriaxone. Among these, MDR E. coli isolates of both commercial poultry and humans, colistin resistance was found in 78.6% and 48.1%, respectively. Genotypic confirmation of mcr genes such as mcr-1 (42%), mcr-2 (19.6%), mcr-3 (15.1%), mcr-4 (7.6%), and mcr-5 (4.5%) in commercial poultry. However, only the mcr-1 (15.6%) gene was found in human isolates. The current study findings highlight the prevalence of mcr genes in E. coli, potentially contributing to broader antibiotic resistance concerns.