# Molecular characterization of antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae in poultry in Lebanon

Mikhayel Myriam, Benoît Doublet, Sébastien Leclercq, Dolla Sarkis

► To cite this version:

Mikhayel Myriam, Benoît Doublet, Sébastien Leclercq, Dolla Sarkis. Molecular characterization of antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae in poultry in Lebanon. 39. Réunion Interdisciplinaire de Chimiothérapie Anti-Infectieuse (RICAI 2019), Dec 2019, PARIS, France. , Poster Commenté 18. hal-03356624

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Submitted on 28 Sep 2021

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PC-18

# Molecular characterization of antibiotic resistant
*Enterobacteriaceae* in poultry in Lebanon

MIKHAYEL Myriam¹,²; LECLERCQ Sebastien¹; DOUBLET Benoît¹; KARAM SARKIS Dolla²

1. Infectiologie et Santé Publique, INRA, Université de Tours, UMR 1282, Nouzilly, France

2. Laboratoire de microbiologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Saint Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban

Contact: myriam.mikhayel@gmail.com +961 3 700 028

## Introduction & Objectives

Poultry production is a main contributor of the global trend of antimicrobial resistance arising from food-producing animals worldwide. In Lebanon, abusive and inappropriate use of antibiotics is frequent in chickens for prophylactic reasons and to increase productivity. In absence of a surveillance system, the present objective is to decipher the spread of resistant *Enterobacteriaceae* in poultry in Lebanon.

## Methods

280 rectal swabs from 56 farms across the country were screened for the presence of expanded-spectrum Cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant *Enterobacteriaceae* isolates (n=341). Antimicrobial susceptibility and expanded spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC production were determined by the disk-diffusion method. Whole genome sequencing of 263 representative isolates was performed to determine the phylogenetic diversity, acquired resistance genes and plasmids using the CGE tools suite.

## Results

We focused our study on 221 *E.coli* strains (being the most dominant strain with 83.6%), among the set of the representative isolates. They belonged to a great diversity of sequence-types, most being well-known avian associated (ST-117, ST-10, ST-48 and ST-93), and sometimes pathogenic.

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**FIG 1:** Most relevant molecular results of the *E.coli* strains.</figcaption></figure>

A. The proportion of ESBL, pAmpC producers and ESBL/pAmpC co-producers.

B1. The most prevalent ESBL genes (Only one isolate harboured the blaCTX-M-1 gene usually associated with livestock production).

B2. The proportions of *E.coli* co-expressing ESBL/pAmpC genes. (100% of the pAmpC strains were carrying the gene blaCMY-2).

B3. Resistant *E. coli* isolates co-expressing ESBL and/or AmpC genes and the mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-1.

<caption>**FIG 2:** Distribution of main ESBL genes found in the 4 main regions of the Lebanese Territory and their co-expressions with the mcr-1 gene.</caption>

We can obviously notice a contrast of the proportions of ESBL gene's distribution, the number of strains carrying the mcr-1 genes, and the co-expression of ESBL genes and mcr-1 between all the regions. A pre-dominance of the bla<sub>CTX-M-3</sub> gene was visualized and a large bla<sub>CTX-M-3</sub> and mcr-1 gene co-expression link can be mentioned according to this map.

## Conclusions

For the first time, this study illustrates the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant *E. coli*, especially to medically-important antibiotics, in broiler production in Lebanon. Further molecular studies are needed to understand the country-specific epidemiology of ESBL/AmpC and mcr-1 genes in Lebanese poultry. Our results also advocate the urge for surveillance programs and action plans in Lebanon to reduce the abusive use of antibiotics and to limit the spread of multidrug-resistance in food-producing animals.