Tetracycline resistant genes in Escherichia coli isolated from enteric disease in companion birds

Anti-microbial resistant genes could be passed to human via the food chain or by direct contact with infected birds. To evaluate tetracycline resistance genes in the feces of companion birds suspected to enteritis, 100 fecal samples were collected from diarrheic companion birds in Isfahan province, Iran. The presence of Escherichia coli was examined by bacteriological, biochemical, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The presence of genes associated with resistance to tetracycline (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD, tetE, tetG, tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO and tetS genes) was examined using a multiplex PCR. The results showed that in enteric birds, 43.00% of fecal samples contained E. coli. In 26 resistant E. coli, 11, 12 and 3 strains contained tetA (42.30%), tetB (46.15) and tetA plus tetB (11.53%) resistant genes, respectively. In conclusion, E. coli isolates from the enteric problem of companion birds contained tetracycline resistant genes that may transfer to human and pose a risk for antibiotic effectiveness in the treatment of infectious diseases in human.