Phenotypic and genomic analysis of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli isolates obtained from starter-phase broilers of commercial chicken farms in central Ethiopia

Antimicrobials are widely used in intensive poultry production, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting the selection and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Avian fecal Escherichia coli (AFEC) act as important reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, reflecting baseline resistance levels and facilitating dissemination of resistance and virulence determinants within poultry production systems. This study aimed to phenotypically and genotypically characterize cloacal E. c