ABSTRACT Drug resistance is currently recognized as a global problem. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. coli in broiler chickens, slaughter workers, and related specimens. Swab specimens were collected during the slaughter process from broiler carcasses, organs, workers’ hands, and various utensils. Bacterial culture, biochemical analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were conducted on the isolated specimens. Out of a total of 1132 swab specimens, 294 (25.97%) tested positive for E. coli. The highest percentage (39.76%) was found in workers’ hand specimens, followed by different slaughter utensils and walls. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed complete resistance to ampicillin (100%). High resistance rates were observed for tetracycline (91.50%), chloramphenicol (91.16%), nalidixic acid (86.05%), ciprofloxacin (77.55%), colistin (77.21%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (72.45%), kanamycin (71.09%), doxycycline (70.07%), ceftazidime (69.05%), ampicillin-sulbactam (53.06%), and gentamicin (50.34%). On the other hand, 60.20% of the isolates showed sensitivity to amikacin, followed by ceftriaxone (41.50%) and norfloxacin (37.76%). MDR was observed in 99.32% (292 isolates), with 28.23% of them being potentially classified as extensively drug-resistant (XDR). The MAR index of the E. coli isolates ranged from 0.2 to 1.0, displaying 190 different resistant patterns. The high prevalence of MDR among E. coli isolates from broiler chickens and related specimens, along with their resistance to important antibiotics, is a significant public health concern. problem multidrug multi drug (MDR E workers carcasses organs hands culture analysis 113 29 25.97% 2597 25 97 (25.97% 39.76% 3976 39 76 (39.76% walls 100%. 100 100% . (100%) 91.50%, 9150 91.50% , 91 50 (91.50%) 91.16%, 9116 91.16% 16 (91.16%) 86.05%, 8605 86.05% 86 05 (86.05%) 77.55%, 7755 77.55% 77 55 (77.55%) 77.21%, 7721 77.21% 21 (77.21%) trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole 72.45%, 7245 72.45% 72 45 (72.45%) 71.09%, 7109 71.09% 71 09 (71.09%) 70.07%, 7007 70.07% 70 07 (70.07%) 69.05%, 6905 69.05% 69 (69.05%) ampicillinsulbactam sulbactam 53.06%, 5306 53.06% 53 06 (53.06%) 50.34%. 5034 50.34% 34 (50.34%) 6020 60 20 60.20 amikacin 41.50% 4150 41 (41.50% 37.76%. 3776 37.76% 37 (37.76%) 9932 99 32 99.32 292 (29 isolates, isolates) 2823 28 23 28.23 drugresistant XDR. XDR (XDR) 02 0 2 0. 10 1 1.0 19 patterns antibiotics concern 11 25.97 259 9 (25.97 39.76 397 3 7 (39.76 (100% 915 91.50 5 (91.50% 911 91.16 (91.16% 860 86.05 8 (86.05% 775 77.55 (77.55% 772 77.21 (77.21% 724 72.45 4 (72.45% 710 71.09 (71.09% 700 70.07 (70.07% 690 69.05 6 (69.05% 530 53.06 (53.06% 503 50.34 (50.34% 602 60.2 41.50 415 (41.50 377 37.76 (37.76% 993 99.3 (2 282 28.2 (XDR 1. 25.9 (25.9 39.7 (39.7 (100 91.5 (91.50 91.1 (91.16 86.0 (86.05 77.5 (77.55 77.2 (77.21 72.4 (72.45 71.0 (71.09 70.0 (70.07 69.0 (69.05 53.0 (53.06 50.3 (50.34 60. 41.5 (41.5 37.7 (37.76 99. ( 28. 25. (25. 39. (39. (10 91. (91.5 (91.1 86. (86.0 77. (77.5 (77.2 72. (72.4 71. (71.0 70. (70.0 69. (69.0 53. (53.0 50. (50.3 41. (41. 37. (37.7 (25 (39 (1 (91. (86. (77. (72. (71. (70. (69. (53. (50. (41 (37. (3 (91 (86 (77 (72 (71 (70 (69 (53 (50 (4 (37 (9 (8 (7 (6 (5

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify relative proportions of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the gut of broilers and risk factors that may be contributing to the development of colibacillosis disease in broiler farms of District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. For this, 10 healthy and 10 colibacillosis affected broiler farms were surveyed for ileum and blood sample collection along with data regarding farm management, antibiotic use and hygiene practices. Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli number was estimated using Miles and Misra method and colibacillosis was confirmed by Congo red dye assay. Lactobacillus and E. coli were identified biochemically. For risk factors analysis chi-square analysis was performed to find any significant association between the health status of the farm and risk factors. Results showed during disease and healthy conditions Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli counts differ significantly (p<0.05). E. coli counts (106-108 to 107-109) increased (p<0.05) about three folds and Lactobacillus counts decrease (106-108 to 105-107) about four folds in disease conditions. Risk factor analysis showed colibacillosis disease was significantly associated (p<0.05) with non-vaccinated flocks, natural ventilation systems, rodent presence and the lack of outfit disinfection or change by workers when moving between different houses. It is concluded that E. coli and Lactobacillus work antagonistically to each other. However, further research is necessary to determine the exact mechanisms by which E. coli and Lactobacillus influence the development of colibacillosis. While Lactobacillus as probiotic may help with prevention, good hygiene and management practices are still crucial in preventing the spread of disease. Kasur Punjab Pakistan this 1 assay E biochemically chisquare chi square p<0.05. p005 p p<0.05 . 0 05 106108 106 108 (106-10 107109 107 109 107-109 (p<0.05 105107 105 105-107 nonvaccinated non vaccinated flocks systems houses other However prevention p00 p<0.0 10610 (106-1 10710 107-10 (p<0.0 10510 105-10 p0 p<0. 1061 (106- 1071 107-1 (p<0. 1051 105-1 p<0 (106 107- (p<0 105- p< (10 (p< (1 (p (

This study was designed to investigate the effects of a probiotic plus an immunomodulatory product on the growth performance, immune response and net economic returns of broiler chicks vaccinated against Infectious bursal diseases virus (IBDV). A flock of 350 day-old chicks were equally and randomly distributed in seven groups, each comprising 50 birds. A mixture of microorganisms (¹Probiotic) or Cyclophosphamide (immune suppressor) was offered through feed supplementation to different groups. The Probiotic, consisting of Lactobacillus species, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus salivarius and Enterococcus faecium, in addition to Aspergillus oryza and Candida pintolopessii. Compared with control treatment group, the probiotic-supplemented chicks had better feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.938 and 1.959), with significantly heavier live body weight 2141.0±34.2 and 2120.3±33.2, respectively. Similarly, their antibody titers against IBDV were significantly higher (941 and 832) on day 35. No morbidity and mortality were observed in these groups. This study suggests that a product composed of a probiotic and cyclophosphamide enhanced the growth rate as well as the immunity against infectious bursal disease virus of broilers chicks.