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Microorganisms
Volume 14
Issue 5
10.3390/microorganisms14050977
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Article

Virulence Traits and Drug Resistance of STEC Isolated from Layer Poultry and Rattus Species

by
Tsepo Ramatla
1,*,
Jane Nkhebenyane
1,
Kgaugelo E. Lekota
2,
Mpho Tawana
3,
Oriel Thekisoe
2 and
Ntelekwane G. Khasapane
1
1
Centre for Applied Food Safety and Biotechnology, Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Technology, 1 Park Road, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
2
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
3
College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Private Bag X6, Roodepoort 1710, South Africa
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2026, 14(5), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14050977
Submission received: 9 March 2026 / Revised: 15 April 2026 / Accepted: 21 April 2026 / Published: 27 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance in Animal Populations)
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Abstract

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has emerged globally as a critical enteric foodborne zoonotic pathogen with significant public health implications. This study aimed to isolate and characterize STEC strains from Rattus spp. and layer chickens, specifically evaluating their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles and the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates. A total of 274 fecal samples were collected from Rattus spp. (n = 154) and layer chickens (n = 120). Isolates were characterized using standard microbiological techniques, PCR amplification of specific genes (including uidA and stx), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing via the disk diffusion method. Results: Of the 248 presumptive E. coli isolates, 237 (95.5%) were confirmed via uidA gene amplification. Fifty-eight isolates were confirmed as STEC, including key O-serogroups (O103, O111, O26, and O157). Resistance was most prevalent against colistin (39.6%) and streptomycin (20.6%), with 8.6% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR). Additionally, 19 isolates showed ESBL-producing phenotypes, and resistance genes for colistin, phenicols, aminoglycosides, and carbapenems were detected. The presence of STEC and MDR strains in both rodents and poultry highlights a high pathogenic potential and a serious zoonotic risk to public health, necessitating enhanced surveillance.
Keywords: shiga-toxin producing E. coli; O-serogroups; antibiotic resistance properties; ESBL-producing STEC; Ruttus spp.; chicken shiga-toxin producing E. coli; O-serogroups; antibiotic resistance properties; ESBL-producing STEC; Ruttus spp.; chicken

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ramatla, T.; Nkhebenyane, J.; Lekota, K.E.; Tawana, M.; Thekisoe, O.; Khasapane, N.G. Virulence Traits and Drug Resistance of STEC Isolated from Layer Poultry and Rattus Species. Microorganisms 2026, 14, 977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14050977

AMA Style

Ramatla T, Nkhebenyane J, Lekota KE, Tawana M, Thekisoe O, Khasapane NG. Virulence Traits and Drug Resistance of STEC Isolated from Layer Poultry and Rattus Species. Microorganisms. 2026; 14(5):977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14050977

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ramatla, Tsepo, Jane Nkhebenyane, Kgaugelo E. Lekota, Mpho Tawana, Oriel Thekisoe, and Ntelekwane G. Khasapane. 2026. "Virulence Traits and Drug Resistance of STEC Isolated from Layer Poultry and Rattus Species" Microorganisms 14, no. 5: 977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14050977

APA Style

Ramatla, T., Nkhebenyane, J., Lekota, K. E., Tawana, M., Thekisoe, O., & Khasapane, N. G. (2026). Virulence Traits and Drug Resistance of STEC Isolated from Layer Poultry and Rattus Species. Microorganisms, 14(5), 977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14050977

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