Identification of Fimbrial genes and ‎floroquinolons and extended spectrum ‎beta lactamase resistant gene in ‎Escherichia coli isolated from buffalo in ‎west Azerbaijan

The present study aimed to identify fimbria, fluroquinolone and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) resistant genes in Escherichia coli isolated from buffalo feces. In this study, a number of 384 buffalo feces from different regions of west Azerbaijan and in different seasons were randomly collected. Fecal samples were cultured and E. coli were investigated using biochemical method. Polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify fimbria genes (fimA, crl and csgA), tsh gene, floroqinulone (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX-M) resistance genes. A number of 115 (29.9%) fecal samples were positive for E. coli. The frequency of the positive fecal for E. coli from northern region were significantly lower than central and southern regions (P<0.05). The frequency of positive fecal samples for E. coli did not differ between seasons.  The frequency of fimbria genes fimA, crl and csgA were 79.1%, 72.1% and 74.7% respectively. tsh gene had the lowest frequency in E. coil isolates. Among fluroquinolone and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase resistance genes, qnrS gene had the lowest (6.0%) and blaTEM had the highest (13.9%) frequencies. The results revealed that E. coli was isolated from less than one third of fecal samples. Fimbria genes had almost similar frequencies among E. coli isolates and antibiotic resistance genes were exist in less than 14% of E. coli isolates from buffalo feces. The investigation of antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli originated from animals is of great epidemiological and public health importance.