Widespread Presence of Zoonotic Pathogen Escherichia albertii Found in Bangladeshi Retail Chicken, Study Warns
A recent study has uncovered a significant public health threat in Bangladesh’s retail poultry supply, identifying the emerging zoonotic pathogen Escherichia albertii as widely present in chicken meats sold at local markets. The bacterium, known to cause gastrointestinal illnesses in humans, was also detected on processing surfaces and workers’ hands, highlighting serious cross-contamination risks.
Researchers collected samples from 61 dressed chickens across 17 retail outlets in four upazilas, along with swabs from chicken cloacas, butcher tools, and handlers’ hands. Testing using species-specific PCR revealed E. albertii in 63.9% of meat samples, 71.4% of cloacal swabs, 45.5% of hand swabs, 13.3% of bleeding cones, and 10% of blades used for processing.
The study also revealed a worrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile. Nearly 94.4% of the isolates were resistant to at least one tested antibiotic, with half of them classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Resistance was commonly observed against clinically important antibiotics such as tetracycline, ampicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, and ciprofloxacin.
Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the presence of multiple AMR genes as well as key virulence factors like eae and Eacdt. Phylogenetic analysis showed considerable genomic diversity, but clonal similarities among isolates from meat, cloacal, and hand swabs within the same shops strongly suggest contamination during handling and processing.
“These findings raise significant food safety concerns,” said the researchers, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced hygiene practices, stricter biosecurity measures, and robust antimicrobial stewardship in Bangladesh’s poultry sector.
The study provides the first detailed insight into the prevalence and characteristics of E. albertii in Bangladeshi poultry, reinforcing the role of retail chicken as a potential vector for zoonotic disease transmission.