Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant E. albertii in Bangladeshi Poultry Shops

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have identified alarming levels of E. albertii, an emerging foodborne pathogen, contaminating retail chicken meat across various districts in Bangladesh. Published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, their study highlights extensive contamination coupled with significant antimicrobial resistance, posing serious public health concerns.

E. albertii, a lesser-known relative of E. coli first identified in Bangladesh in 2003, is capable of causing gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Despite its medical relevance, this bacterium often remains misdiagnosed, and its full impact is not yet understood. In Japan, E. albertii has caused multiple large-scale food poisoning outbreaks, affecting over a hundred individuals at once.

The research team conducted sampling from 17 poultry retail outlets in four different districts, analyzing chicken meat, internal organs, cloacal swabs, worker hand swabs, and processing tools for bacterial presence and resistance patterns. Results indicated a high prevalence: about 64% of chicken meat samples and over 71% of cloacal swabs tested positive for E. albertii. Furthermore, bacteria were detected on human hands (45.5%) and on processing equipment such as blades and bleeding cones, indicating possible cross-contamination during processing.

A troubling finding was that 94.4% of all E. albertii isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, with half classified as multidrug-resistant, resisting drugs like tetracycline, ampicillin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin. Whole genome sequencing confirmed the presence of resistance genes and virulence factors, increasing concerns about the pathogen's ability to cause severe disease.

This study underscores the urgent need for improved hygiene practices in poultry processing, stricter regulation of antibiotic use, and enhanced surveillance to prevent food-borne infections. The researchers advocate for expanded molecular epidemiological studies and international collaboration to address the spread of E. albertii, especially as global trade and food movement increase the risk of cross-border outbreaks.

Addressing these challenges is crucial for safeguarding public health and reducing the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Ongoing investigations aim to understand human infections better by comparing bacterial strains from poultry and clinical cases, and identifying contamination routes in the supply chain.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-antibiotic-resistant-albertii-bangladeshi-chicken.html