E-ISSN 2536-9520 | ISSN 1110-2047
 
2026, Vol: 90
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Original Article
Online Published: 24 Jul 2026
 


Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt

Asmaa Sayed Ahmed Abu Ellif, Hatem Salah Eldin Abdelhamid, Hany Fawzy Ellakany, Ahmed Abo Elmagd Bkheet, Ahmed Ragab Elbestawy, Ahmed Ramadan Gado.


Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a major bacterial pathogen causing colibacillosis in poultry and is responsible for substantial economic losses through increased mortality, poor growth performance, reduced productivity, and carcass condemnation. The emergence of virulent and antimicrobial-resistant APEC strains has further complicated disease control. This study investigated the serotype distribution, virulence-associated genes, antimicrobial resistance determinants, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of APEC isolates recovered from poultry farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, during 2022–2023. Samples were collected from 90 chicken flocks representing broiler, Balady, layer, and breeder production systems showing clinical signs and postmortem lesions suggestive of colibacillosis. Conventional bacteriological and biochemical examinations confirmed E. coli in 72 flocks (80%). Twenty representative isolates were serotyped, revealing eleven O serogroups. O78 (20%) was the predominant serotype, followed by O91 and O128 (15% each), whereas O1 and O119 each represented 10% of the isolates. The remaining serotypes (O26, O44, O114, O124, O146, and O153) each accounted for 5%. O78 was detected mainly in birds younger than six weeks, whereas O91, O119, and O44 were also recovered from birds older than 18 weeks. All isolates were resistant to tetracycline but remained susceptible to amikacin. PCR confirmed the presence of the species-specific phoA gene in all isolates. The virulence genes iss, iutA, hlyF, and ompT were detected in every isolate, while iroN was absent in two isolates. Additionally, blaTEM, tetA(A), and mcr-1 were detected in all five multidrug-resistant isolates examined. These findings highlight the circulation of virulent and antimicrobial-resistant APEC strains in Egyptian poultry and emphasize the need for continuous surveillance, prudent antimicrobial use, and strengthened biosecurity programs.

Key words: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), poultry, serotyping, virulence genes, multidrug resistance, mcr-1.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Ellif ASAA, Abdelhamid HSE, Ellakany HF, Bkheet AAE, Elbestawy AR, Gado AR. Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. AJVS. Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132

Web Style

Ellif ASAA, Abdelhamid HSE, Ellakany HF, Bkheet AAE, Elbestawy AR, Gado AR. Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. https://www.alexjvs.com/?mno=320132 [Access: July 25, 2026]. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Ellif ASAA, Abdelhamid HSE, Ellakany HF, Bkheet AAE, Elbestawy AR, Gado AR. Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. AJVS. Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Ellif ASAA, Abdelhamid HSE, Ellakany HF, Bkheet AAE, Elbestawy AR, Gado AR. Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. AJVS, [cited July 25, 2026]; Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132


Harvard Style

Ellif, A. S. A. A., Abdelhamid, . H. S. E., Ellakany, . H. F., Bkheet, . A. A. E., Elbestawy, . A. R. & Gado, . A. R. (0) Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. AJVS, Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132


Turabian Style

Ellif, Asmaa Sayed Ahmed Abu, Hatem Salah Eldin Abdelhamid, Hany Fawzy Ellakany, Ahmed Abo Elmagd Bkheet, Ahmed Ragab Elbestawy, and Ahmed Ramadan Gado. 0. Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132


Chicago Style

Ellif, Asmaa Sayed Ahmed Abu, Hatem Salah Eldin Abdelhamid, Hany Fawzy Ellakany, Ahmed Abo Elmagd Bkheet, Ahmed Ragab Elbestawy, and Ahmed Ramadan Gado. "Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Ellif, Asmaa Sayed Ahmed Abu, Hatem Salah Eldin Abdelhamid, Hany Fawzy Ellakany, Ahmed Abo Elmagd Bkheet, Ahmed Ragab Elbestawy, and Ahmed Ramadan Gado. "Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. Web. 25 Jul 2026 doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Ellif, A. S. A. A., Abdelhamid, . H. S. E., Ellakany, . H. F., Bkheet, . A. A. E., Elbestawy, . A. R. & Gado, . A. R. (0) Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry Farms in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Online First: 24 Jul, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320132




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    The Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences (AJVS) Official Journal of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University   ISSN: 1110-204 ... Read more.



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    Egypt.

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