Journal of Animal Research
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 2

Determination of Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance with Special Emphasis on Extended Spectrum β Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli from Sheep and Goats in Jammu, India

  • Author:
  • Shekhar Mishra1,2, Mohd Rashid1, Deep Shikha3,*, Sabahat Gazal1, Mehak Tikoo4, Gulzar Badroo5, Amitava Paul6
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Published Online: Oct 29, 2025
  • Page Number: 75 to 81

1Division of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, F.V. Sc and A.H, SKUAST-J, R.S. Pura, J & K, India

2ABSL-3, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases (NJILOMD), Tajganj, Agra, (U.P.), India

3Division of Veterinary Microbiology, International Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, IIVER-Rohtak, Haryana, India

4Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Animal Biotechnology T&R cell, Nagpur Veterinary College, MAFSU, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

5Division of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, F.V. Sc and A.H, SKUAST-Kashmir, Suhama, J & K, India

6Division of Veterinary Pathology, International Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, IIVER-Rohtak, Haryana, India

*Corresponding author: D Shikha; E-mail: shikhabali10@gmail.com

Online published on 29 October, 2025.

Abstract

The present study was aimed at investigating the pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli in sheep and goats and their antibiotic resistance patterns with special emphasis on extended spectrum beta lactamases producing E. coli. A total of 200 presumptive E. coli isolates were obtained from 120 faecal samples of sheep and goats. Out of these 200 isolates, 62 isolates showed the presence of at least one virulence gene studied. Among these, 10 isolates carried eaeA gene either alone or in combination with ehxA and were categorized as EPEC. 44 isolates carried stx genes and were categorized as STEC, 08 isolates carried ehxA genes and were designated as EHEC. All 62 isolates showing the presence of at least one virulence gene were further screened for ESBL production by using primers specific for blaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaOXA genes. Out of 62 isolates, only 22 were tested positive for presence of ESBL genes. Further, the prevalence of blaTEM, blaCTX-M, and blaSHV genes was found to be 54.54%, 27.27% and 36.36% respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity profiling of the isolates positive for virulence genes revealed that all isolates were resistant to cefotaxime.

⓿ The most abundant ESBLs type in Sheep and Goat of Jammu region is blaTEM gene.

⓿ Antibiotic sensitivity profiling shows highest resistance against cefotaxime.

Keywords

E. Coli, ESBL, Multiplex PCR, Virulence Genes