Characterization of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from washing and rinsed water of broilers in pluck shops at Sreepur of Gazipur district in Bangladesh

The study was aimed at characterization of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from washing and rinsed water of broilers in pluck shops at Sreepur of Gazipur district in Bangladesh. A total of 30 samples collected from the different layers of drums of pluck shops’ were subjected to bacterial isolation and identification by using cultural and biochemical techniques. Furthermore, the isolated E. coli strains were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The fermentation reaction by the isolates of E. coli in five basic sugars (dextrose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, mannitol) and in dulcitol were positive. Moreover, methyl red reaction and catalase tests were also positive for E. coli . On the other hand, E. coli was prevailed in upper layer of drums (31.82%), in middle layer of drums (36.36%) and in lower layer of drums (31.82%). E. coli isolates were resistant to erythromycin and enrofloxacin. However, most of the E. coli isolates were susceptible to sulfamexazole-trimethoprim and gentamycin. Out of 22 E. coli isolates, 16 (72.73%) were multidrug resistant. The findings of the study revealed the presence of multidrug resistant E. coli isolates in washing and rinsed water of broilers in Pluck shops at Sreepur of Gazipur district in Bangladesh.