author(s)
HK Gida, MN Brahmbhatt, BB Bhanderi, JB Nayak, BC Parmar, JH Chaudhary, DM Paghdar and PP Bhavsar

abstract
This study was undertaken to isolate and characterize extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli from chicken of retail meat market of Anand. Out of a total of 150 chicken muscle samples, 92 (61.33%) samples yielded positive isolation of E. coli. Cultures identified as E. coli were serotyped. All the E. coli isolates were screened by antibiotic susceptibility test against different antibiotics of beta-lactam group, which revealed different susceptibility patterns. A total of 67 (72.82%) isolates were found resistant to used antibiotics. Out of the 92 isolates, 25 (27.17%) isolates were found positive as ESBL producers based on the Epsilometer test (E-test). All 92 E. coli isolates were subjected for PCR based detection of ESBL genes. 19 (20.65%) isolates were found positive for resistance gene bla_CTX-M-3 and 8 (8.69%) isolates for bla_SHV by PCR assay, whereas no isolates were found positive for bla_CTX-M-9and bla_TEM genes_. As a consequence of all the above-mentioned findings, the presence of ESBL producing E. coli in chicken indicates consuming such meat may create significant ESBLs resistance to the studied antibiotics in consumers.