Research Article
Malachy C Ugwu, Chinedu Omanuk
Abstract
Background: Poultry production is a key interface for the spread of novel zoonotic and antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens. Salmonella spp. and S. aureus isolates from 2 poultry production were tested for resistance to clinical antibiotics. Methods: One hundred 100 anal swab samples were aseptically collected from 2 small scale poultry farms located within Agulu, during the period of February 2016 to May 2016. The swab sticks were carefully transferred into the buffered peptone water and incubated at 37°C for 24hours and pre-enriched in sterile nutrient broth at 37°C for 24hours. After which, the culture was streaked on selective media Salmonella-shigella Agar and Mannitol Salt Agar using a sterile wire loop and further incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. S. aureus and Salmonella isolates were identified using standard microbiological identification techniques. The isolates were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility, and for the expression of extended spectrum β-lactamase as well as vancomycin sensitivity. Results: One hundred bacterial isolates (44 S. aureus and 56 Salmonella spp.) were bacteriologically obtained from the poultry samples. Resistance pattern of the isolates to antibiotics was in the order of ceftazidime>cefuroxime>cloxacillin>augmentin®>ceftriaxone>erythromycin>gentamicin>ofloxacin for S. aureus while the Salmonella spp. had augmentin®>cefuroxime~ofloxacin>gentamicin>ceftazidime>ceftriaxone. Only 5.3% (3/56) Salmonella spp. was ESBL producers while 27.3% S. aureus were Vancomycin resistant. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that the poultry farm and poultry products could be a source of multiple antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella and S. aureus and may constitute a public health concern considering the circulation and consumption of livestock and their products, especially chickens and eggs.