PREVALENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM POULTRY FARMS IN UMUAHIA

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria from poultry farms in Umuahia, Abia state and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates using the disk diffusion method. A total of 92 isolates (comprising 32 Escherichia coli, 9 Klebsiella spp, 26 Salmonella spp, 13 Shigella spp and 12 Staphylococcus spp) were obtained. The isolates were completely (100%) resistant to Ceftazidime, Cefuroxime, Cefixime, Cotrimoxazole, Erythromycin, Streptomycin and Tetracycline but 48.9% were susceptible to Gentamicin, 67.5% to Ofloxacin, 9.8% to Augmentin, 68.8% to Nitrofurantoin, 68.8% to Ciprofloxacin, 16.7% to Cloxacillin and 33.3% to Chloramphenicol. Out of the 32 Escherichia coli isolates, 53.1% were susceptible to Gentamicin, 71.9% to Ofloxacin, 75.0% to Nitrofurantoin and 68.8% to Ciprofloxacin. Out of the 9 Klebsiella spp isolates, 22.2% were susceptible to Gentamicin, 33.3% to Ofloxacin, 33.3% to ciprofloxacin and 44.5% to Nitrofurantoin. Out of the 26 Salmonella spp isolates, 50.0% showed susceptibility to Gentamicin, 76.9% to Ofloxacin, 76.9% to ciprofloxacin and 73.1% to Nitrofurantoin. Out of the 13 Shigella spp isolates, 30.8% were susceptible to Gentamicin, 69.2% to Ofloxacin, 76.9% to ciprofloxacin and 76.9% to Nitrofurantoin. Out of the 12 Staphylococcus spp isolates, 83.3% were susceptible to Gentamicin, 75.0% to Augmentin, 16.7% to Cloxacillin and 33.3% to Chloramphenicol. The high rate of antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates from different poultry farms to some of the antibiotics used have major implications for human and animal health with adverse economic implications. The study therefore recommends proper information dissemination to poultry farmers and poultry feeds producers on dangers of antibiotic resistant strains, prudent use of antibiotics by farmers, veterinarians and physicians, biosecurity plan and use of regulations to control poultry litter disposal.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification                                                                                                                            i

Dedication                                                                                                                               ii

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                iii

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   iv

List of Tables                                                                                                                          vi

List of Figures                                                                                                                         vii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  viii

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION                                                                                   1

CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                       4         

2.1 Poultry                                                                                                                  4

2.2 Pathogenic Bacteria Associated with Poultry                                                      4

2.3 Development of Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics                                           4

2.4 Incidence of Antibiotic Resistance in Poultry                                                      8

CHAPTER THREE - MATERIALS AND METHODS                                                        13

3.1 Sample Collection                                                                                                13

3.2 Preparation of Culture Media                                                                               13

3.3 Culturing on Agar Media                                                                                     13

3.4 Identification of Bacterial Isolates                                                                       14

3.5 Gram Staining                                                                                                      14

3.6 Biochemical Tests                                                                                                15

3.6.1 Catalase Test                                                                                                      15

3.6.2 Methyl Red Test                                                                                                15

                                                                        iv

3.6.3 Voges- Proskauer Test                                                                                       15

3.6.4 Indole Test                                                                                                         16

3.6.5 Citrate Utilization Test                                                                                      16

3.7 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing                                                                   16

CHAPTER FOUR – RESULTS                                                                                             18

CHAPTER FIVE – DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS        33

5.1 Discussion                                                                                                             33

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                            35

5.3 Recommendations                                                                                                36

REFERENCES                                                                                                                      

APPENDIX

LIST OF TABLES

Table   Title                                                                                        Page

1                Number, Percentage and Source Location of Isolated Organisms                       19

2                Number and Percentage Prevalence of Different Isolated Organisms.                      20

3                Prevalence of Different Isolated Organisms from Fecal Samples                            21

4                Prevalence of Different Isolated Organisms from Drinking Water Samples           22                                                                                         

5                Sensitivity Pattern of Isolated Organisms                                                                23

6                Resistance Pattern of Isolated Organisms                                                                24

7                Overall Susceptibility                                                                                               25

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure       Title                                                                             Page

1                         Percentage prevalence of different isolates                                                 26

2                         Susceptibility pattern of E coli.                                                       27

3                         Susceptibility pattern of Salmonella spp.                                        28

4                         Susceptibility pattern of Shigella spp.                                             29

5                         Susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella spp.                                          30

6                         Susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus spp.                                 31

7                         Susceptibility pattern of all isolates                                                32

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The worldwide increase in the use of antibiotics as an integral part of the poultry and livestock production industry to treat and prevent infectious bacterial diseases and as growth promoters at sub therapeutic levels in feeds has led to the problem of the development of bacterial antibiotic resistance during the past years (Apata, 2009). Recent scientific evidence has shown that resistance to antibiotics is not only due to the natural ability of a tiny fraction of the bacteria with unusual traits to survive antibiotic’s attack, enabling resistant strains to multiply, but also stems from the transmissibility of acquired resistance to their progeny and across to other unrelated bacteria species through extra chromosomal DNA fragment called the plasmid which provide a slew of different resistances (Gould, 2008). The emergence and spread of resistant bacterial strains like Campylobacter spp, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Staphylococcus spp from poultry products to consumers put humans at risk to new strains of bacteria that resist antibiotic treatment. Resistant bacteria thwart antibiotics by interfering with their mode of action via a range of effectors’ mechanisms, including synthesis of inactivating enzymes, alteration in the configuration of cell wall or ribosome and modification of membrane carrier systems. These mechanisms are specific to the type of resistance developed. Because of the growing global concerns that resistance bacteria can pass from animals to humans, there is an increase in public and governmental interest in phasing out inappropriate antibiotic use in animal husbandry. Improvement in the hygienic practice of handling raw animal products and adequate heat treatment to eliminate the possibility of antibiotic resistant bacteria surviving may play a role in preventing the spread.

More attention should be focused on increasing antibiotic surveillance capacity to cope with the spread of emerging resistances and on the alternative approach to sub-therapeutic antibiotics in poultry, especially the use of probiotic microorganisms that can positively influence poultry health and produce safe edible products. Acquired resistances against frequently used antibiotics have been observed since the introduction of these antimicrobial agents in human and veterinary medicine (Smith, 1999). The use of antibiotics is a major factor in emergence, selection and dissemination of antibiotic resistant microorganisms in both veterinary and human medicine (Tollefson and Flynn, 2002).  The rise in antibiotics resistance has been reported in the past years and antibiotic resistance still remains a global problem today.  In intensively reared food animals, antibiotics are administered for therapeutic purpose and as Antimicrobial growth promoters (AMGPs) to the whole flock rather than individuals (Van der Bogaard and Stobberingh, 1999). Resistance to antibiotics can either be naturally occurring for a particular organism/drug combination or acquired resistance, where misuse of antimicrobials results in a population being exposed to an environment in which organisms that have genes conferring resistance (either spontaneously mutated or through DNA transfer from other resistant cells) have been able to flourish and spread. Hence, the antibiotic selection pressure for resistance in bacteria in poultry is high and consequently their fecal flora contains a relatively high proportion of resistant bacteria (Van der Bogaard and Stobberingh, 1999).  Resistant strains from the poultry gut readily soil poultry carcasses and when consumed, they alter or affect human endogenous flora (Van der Bogaard and Stobberingh, 2001).  Gene transfer occurs majorly in vivo between gastrointestinal tract bacteria and pathogenic bacteria, as identical resistant genes are present in diverse bacterial species from different hosts (Scott, 2002).

In light of this, there is probability that most pathogenic bacteria that threaten human health may soon be resistant to all known antibiotics (Scott, 2002).Certain antibiotics however are critical to human infections caused by multidrug resistant pathogens, or because alternative therapies are less effective or are associated with side effects (Akond et al,2008)  The determination of the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents against specific pathogens-either human or animal source- is essential for proper therapy (Prescott et al,2005).  The development of resistance to antimicrobial drugs is a serious problem worldwide, which threatens the ability to treat infections in animals and humans (Adeleke and Omafuvbe, 2011).  More so, the use of antimicrobials in agriculture especially as growth promoters, chemotherapeutic and prophylactic agents in food animals’ bacteria are of public health implication (Heuer and Smalla, 2007; Witte, 1998) which centers around problems related to prescribing inappropriate antibiotic treatment in cases of infection.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research are

(1)To assess the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in some poultry farms in Umuahia.

(2)To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates.

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