Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Biofilm Forming Non Typhoidal Isolates from Poultry and Its Associated Food Products from Pakistan

Salmonellosis caused by non-typhoidal from poultry products is a major public health concern worldwide. This study aimed at estimating the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance in isolates obtained from poultry birds and their food products from different areas of Pakistan. In total, 95/370 (25.67%) samples from poultry droppings, organs, eggs, and meat were positive for The isolates were further identified through multiplex PCR (mPCR) as Typhimurium 14 (14.7%), Enteritidis 12 (12.6%), and other spp. 69 (72.6%). The phenotypic virulence properties of 95 isolates exhibited swimming and/or swarming motility 95 (100%), DNA degrading activity 93 (97.8%), hemolytic activity 92 (96.8%), lipase activity 87 (91.6%), and protease activity 86 (90.5%). The virulence gene known for conferring zoonotic potential was detected in . Typhimurium (92.8%), . Enteritidis (100%), and other spp. (69.5%). The isolates were further tested against 23 antibiotics (from 10 different antimicrobial groups) and were found resistant against fifteen to twenty-one antibiotics. All isolates showed multiple drug resistance and were found to exhibit a high multiple antibiotic-resistant (MAR) index of 0.62 to 0.91. The strong biofilm formation at 37 °C reflected their potential adherence to intestinal surfaces. There was a significant correlation between antimicrobial resistance and the biofilm formation potential of isolates. The resistance determinant genes found among the isolated strains were (59.3%) (18%) (9.5%) (43%), and (8.3%). The detection of zoonotic potential MDR in poultry and its associated food products carrying cephalosporin and quinolone resistance genes presents a major threat to the poultry industry and public health.