ABSTRACT The rapid emergence of multidrug resistant Enterobacterales, especially extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing strains, poses a significant One Health challenge in low‐ and middle‐income countries, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and resistant genes profile of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from quails in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh. A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 404 cloacal swabs were collected from quails across multiple retail locations. Isolates were identified using culture, biochemical tests, and PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method against 12 antibiotics. Resistance and virulence genes, including stx1 , tetA , strA , AAC(3)‐iv , sul1 , and β‐ lactamase genes, were detected using multiplex and monoplex PCR. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) and MDR status were determined. E. coli was detected in 63.37% (256/404) of samples, of which 53.91% were Shiga toxin‐producing ( stx1 ). K. pneumoniae was confirmed in 11.14% (45) of isolates. Both organisms showed 100% resistance to ampicillin and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid. Nearly all isolates were multidrug resistant, with mean MARI values of 0.58 for E. coli and 0.48 for K. pneumoniae . High frequencies of resistance genes were observed, with strong phenotype–genotype alignment. In K. pneumoniae , the bla TEM (65.96%), Multicase MOX (44.68%) and Multicase DHA (10.63%) genes predominated. Overall, the findings highlight quails in Bangladesh as an important and previously under recognized reservoir of multidrug resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae , underscoring the urgent need for strengthened antimicrobial stewardship and One Health based surveillance strategies.
Mamun et al. (Mon,) studied this question.