Antimicrobial resistance, class 1 and 2 integrons and gene cassettes in avian Escherichia coli

Seventy-four Escherichia coli isolates were collected from domestic, synanthropic free living birds as well as wild and exotic birds, all living in captivity. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested against a panel of 9 antibiotics, and presence of integrons (Class 1 and Class 2) and gene cassettes was analysed by PCR and sequencing, respectively. Twenty-eight isolates proved positive for Class 1 integrons and 19 for Class 2. Gene cassette arrangements were determined in 23 integron-positive isolates, which harboured one (aadA1) two (dfrA1-aadA1) or three (dfrA7-dfrA1-aadA1, dfrA1-sat1-aadA1) cassettes in their variable region. E. coli multiresistance to antimicrobials was observed in all groups examined, in particular domestic and synanthropic birds showed resistance to at least 4 antibiotics. A large number of isolates from domestic and synantropic birds proved to be Class 1 integron- positive, but unexpectedly, we observed many Class 2 integrons, usually considered less frequent. Key words: Birds, E. coli, Antimicrobial resistance, Integrons.