Prevalence of Multiple Drug-Resistant Salmonella and E. Coli in Table Eggs in North India

Salmonellosis and colibacillosis in poultry are two major zoonotic bacterial diseases often transmitted through eggs to the offspring. To detect prevalence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli bacteria in table purpose poultry eggs 85 eggs were sampled from Bareilly and Dehradun retail markets and an organized farm in Izatnagar. Salmonella could be isolated from four eggs and E. coli from 24 eggs. Salmonella isolates belonged to three serovars (S. Virchow, S. Winneba and S. Champaign) and were isolated from egg yolk only. Escherichia coli could be isolated from egg shells (10), egg yolk (14) and egg albumen (2). From an egg sampled from Bareilly market, both Salmonella (S. Winneba) and E. coli were isolated from egg yolk. Each of the two eggs sampled from Bareilly were positive for E. coli on shells and in albumen, the strains from shell had different drug sensitivity patterns than those from albumen of the same egg. Many of the E. coli (30.8%) had multiple-drug-resistance (MDR). Most of the E. coli and Salmonella isolates were resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline but none to enerofloxacin. The study concludes that MDR Salmonella and E. coli are quite prevalent in poultry eggs.