Open Access
Research (Published online: 08-06-2023)
11. First report of mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from turkeys in the Gaza Strip, Palestine
Ahmed M. Thabet, Ibrahim M. Alzuheir, Nahed A. Al Laham, Belal Y. Abu Helal, Adnan F. Fayyad, Nasr H. Jalboush, and Mohammad H. Gharaibeh
Veterinary World, 16(6): 1260-1265

Ahmed M. Thabet: Thabet Center for Veterinary Services diagnostic laboratory, Gaza Strip, Palestine; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Ibrahim M. Alzuheir: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine.
Nahed A. Al Laham: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Azhar University, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Belal Y. Abu Helal: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine.
Adnan F. Fayyad: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine.
Nasr H. Jalboush: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine.
Mohammad H. Gharaibeh: Department of Basic Veterinary Medical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030 Irbid, 22110, Jordan.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1260-1265

Article history: Received: 23-02-2023, Accepted: 15-05-2023, Published online: 08-06-2023

Corresponding author: Ibrahim M. Alzuheir

E-mail: ibrahimzuhair@najah.edu

Citation: Thabet AM, Alzuheir IM, Al Laham NA, Helal BYA, Fayyad AF, Jalboush NH, and Gharaibeh MA (2023) First report of mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from turkeys in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, Veterinary World, 16(6): 1260-1265.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Colistin is used to treat avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a microorganism that affects turkey meat production in the Gaza Strip and worldwide. However, the recent emergence of plasmid-borne mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes in pathogenic E. coli strains is a serious antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenge for both human and animal health. In December 2018, colistin was banned as a veterinary antimicrobial in the Gaza Strip. This study aimed to detect and track the prevalence of colistin-resistant APEC isolated from turkey flocks in the Gaza Strip.

Materials and Methods: This study investigated 239 APEC isolates from turkey flocks in the Gaza Strip between October 2018 and December 2021 (at 6-month intervals). The colistin-resistant APEC strains were detected using the broth microdilution method. The mcr-1 gene was identified using a polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The overall colistin resistance among the isolated APECs was 32.2% during the study period. The average resistance in the first interval was 37.5%, which significantly decreased to 9.3% in the last interval. Among the 77 phenotypically resistant isolates, 32.4% were positive for mcr-1. The average abundance of mcr-1 in the first interval was 66.6%, which decreased to 25% in the last interval.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the presence of the mcr-1 gene among the APEC isolates from turkeys in the Gaza Strip. Banned veterinary use of colistin significantly decreased the percentage of resistant APEC isolates from turkeys in Gaza Strip. Further studies are needed to investigate other colistin resistance genes and track the emergence of AMR.

Keywords: avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, colistin, Gaza Strip, turkey.