Intimin (eae) and virulence membrane protein pagC genes are associated with biofilm formation and multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolates from calves with diarrhea

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the association of the intimin (eae) and pagC genes with biofilm formation and multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica collected from calves with diarrhea. RESULTS: Fecal samples (n: 150) were collected from calves with diarrhea. Of 150 fecal samples, 122 (81.3%) were culture positive and 115/122 (94.2%) were Gram-negative bacteria. Among them, E. coli (n = 64/115, 55.6%) was the most common isolate followed by S. enterica (n = 41/115, 35.6%). Also, 10 (8.6%) isolates were other Enterobacteriaceae bacteria including Klebsiella and Proteus species. Eighty-nine isolates (77.4%) from calf diarrhea, including 52 (81.3%) E. coli and 37 (90.2%) S. enterica were MDR. The eae and pagC genes were detected in 33 (51.5%) E. coli and 28 (68.3%) S. enterica isolates, respectively. There was a strong association between these genes and biofilm formation and MDR phenotype (P-value = 0.000). All E. coli isolates carrying the eae gene were biofilm producers and MDR. Also, all pagC-positive S. enterica isolates were MDR and 25 (89.3%) isolates of them produced biofilm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-022-06218-6.