Antimicrobial resistance and epidemiology of Escherichia coli in broiler breeder chickens

Abstract

Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from two flocks of broiler breeder chickens beginning at 1 day old. Antimicrobial sensitivities were determined and isolates were grouped on the basis of their antibiogram patterns. In both flocks there was an initial dramatic shift in the antimicrobial resistance patterns of the E. coli isolates which changed from sensitive to multiresistant. Both flocks were given spectinomycin in drinking water during the first 3 days on the rearer farm. Statistical analysis of the E. coli isolates in Flock 2 revealed that there was a significant difference between E. coil obtained from 1-day-old birds and those obtained from 1-week- old birds in terms of the propor..