fecal carriage of escherichia coli harboring extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (esbl) genes by sheep and broilers in urmia region, iran

background: there is a growing concern on the impact of the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (esbl) producing escherichia coli isolated from animals on public health. objectives: the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of three classes of esbl genes in e. coli isolates from sheep and broilers at a slaughter in urmia region, iran. methods: a total of 111 e. coli isolates were obtained from sheep (n=55) and broilers (n=56) fecal samples and the presence of blactx-m, blatem and blashv genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (pcr). results: in general, 32 of these isolates carried blactx-m, 16 blatem, and 17 blactx-m plus blatem. none of the isolates tested was positive for the blashv gene. among the 55 isolates from sheep, 33 (60%) contained one or more esbl encoding gene; 15 (27.2%), 10 (18.2%), and 8 (14.5%) isolates were positive for blactx-m, blatem, and                                                                                                              blactx-m+blatem, respectively. among the 56 isolates from broilers, 32 (57.1%) isolates carried at least one esbl encoding gene; 17 (30.4%) and 6 (10.7%) isolates were positive for blactx-m and blatem genes, respectively, and the blactx-m+ blatem was identified in nine isolates (16.1%). conclusions: this study demonstrated that sheep and broiler feces may be a reservoir of e. coli harboring esbls genes, with ctx-m being the predominant β-lactamase type. this may pose a public health risk, which requires future evaluation and control.