Irfan Alias Kendek, Mustofa Helmi Effendi, Freshinta Jellia Wibisono, Mariana Febrilianti Resilinda Putri, Zainul Abidin, Naseh Naseh, Saifur Rehman, Aswin Rafif Khairullah, Sheila Marty Yanestria, Bima Putra Pratama, Dea Anita Ariani Kurniasih, Riza Zainuddin Ahmad, John Yew Huat Tang, Muhammad ‘Ahdi Kurniawan, Fidi Nur Aini Eka Puji Dameanti
Escherichia coli normally inhabits the intestinal tract of poultry as a commensal organism; however, specific strains such as avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) may become opportunistic pathogens responsible for colibacillosis in birds. The inappropriate use of antibiotics can increase antimicrobial resistance, which may impact public health. This study aimed to detect the presence of the iroN virulence gene specifically in multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli isolates associated with APEC obtained from duck cloacal swabs collected at live markets in Surabaya. This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional survey, and the results are presented as prevalence proportions without inferential or correlation statistical testing, as iroN detection was performed exclusively on MDR isolates. Samples were collected from five live markets in Surabaya and cultured on MacConkey agar (MCA). E. coli was identified morphologically through Gram staining and biochemically using Triple Sugar Iron Agar (TSIA), Sulfide Indole Motility (SIM), Simmons Citrate Agar (SCA), indole, and methyl red–Voges–Proskauer (MR–VP) tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on all confirmed E. coli isolates (n = 120), and PCR analysis of the iroN gene was subsequently conducted only on MDR isolates (n = 14). The identification rate of E. coli in this study was 83.3% (120/144). Resistance to erythromycin was 81.7% (98/120), which likely reflects the intrinsic resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to macrolides rather than acquired antimicrobial resistance. This was followed by resistance to gentamicin at 19.2% (23/120), ciprofloxacin at 14.2% (17/120), aztreonam at 3.3% (4/120), and chloramphenicol at 2.5% (3/120). The prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) was 11.6% (14/120). Among these MDR isolates, 42.8% (6/14) were positive for the iroN virulence gene. No statistical association between MDR status and iroN carriage was assessed because non-MDR isolates were not screened for iroN. These findings provide baseline descriptive data on MDR and iroN-positive E. coli in traditional markets in Surabaya based on a limited panel of representative antimicrobial classes, without inferring specific resistance mechanisms such as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production. © 2026 The Author(s).
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Health, Pharmacy Study Program, Universitas Sari Mulia, South Kalimantan, Banjarmasin, Indonesia; Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, East Java, Surabaya, Indonesia; Research Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, East Java, Surabaya, Indonesia; School of Food Industry, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (Besut Campus), Terengganu, Besut, Malaysia; Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, East Java, Surabaya, Indonesia; Department of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Nusa Cendana, East Nusa Tenggara, Kupang, Indonesia; Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan; Research Center for Veterinary Science, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), West Java, Bogor, Indonesia; Research Center for Process Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Banten, South Tangerang, Indonesia; Research Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), West Java, Bogor, Indonesia; Zoonotic Pathogens and Global Health Research Group, Virtual Research Center for Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (VRCBB), East Java, Surabaya, Indonesia; Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, Indonesia
