Sources of variation in the ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli concentration in the feces of organic broiler chickens.

ABSTRACT: Currently, there are limited published data for the population dynamics of antimicrobial-resistant commensal bacteria. This study was designed to evaluate both the proportions of the Escherichia coli populations that are resistant to ampicillin at the level of the individual chicken on commercial broiler farms and the feasibility of obtaining repeated measures of fecal E. coli concentrations. Short-term temporal variation in the concentration of fecal E. coli was investigated, and a preliminary assessment was made of potential factors involved in the shedding of high numbers of ampicillin-resistant E. coli by growing birds in the absence of the use of antimicrobial drugs. Multilevel linear regression modeling revealed that the largest component of random variation in log-transformed fecal

SUBMITTER: Pleydell EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1797143 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature