Isolation and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Escherichia Coli and Salmonella Gallinarum Isolated from Rats in Commercial Poultry Farms with Recurrent Colibacillosis and Fowl Typhoid Cases in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Against the background of persistent outbreaks of Fowl typhoid and Colibacillosis in five commercial layer farms in Zaria, Nigeria, this study was conducted to screen rats for Escherichia coli and Salmonella gallinarum in the farms, and to evaluate the susceptibility of the bacterial organisms to ten commonly used antimicrobial drugs in Zaria. A total of 250 rectal swabs of rats comprising Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and Roof rats (Rattus rattus) caught with sticky traps in the farms were analyzed. Standard methods were used to isolate E. coli and S. gallinarum. Biochemical characterization of E. coli and S. gallinarum was also done according to standard method. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the susceptibility of the organisms to ten antimicrobial agents: amoxycillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamycin, neomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulphamexazole and tetracycline. Of the 250 rats screened, 112 (44.8%) were positive for S. gallinarum and E. coli. The result indicated occurrence rates of 26.8% for E. coli and 18.0% for S. gallinarum in the rats screened. The antibiogram revealed that 38 (56.7%) of the E. coli and 29 (64%) of the S. gallinarum isolated were resistant to all drugs tested except ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin. Complete resistance to nitrofurantoin was observed in 11.9% of E. coli and 13.3% of S. gallinarum. The need to introduce and sustain rat control programme was recommended. Special emphasis also needs to be given for the rational use of drugs to avoid problems of resistence among bacterial pathogens of poultry.

Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Escherichia coli Isolated From Broiler Chickens With Colibacillosis in Ardabil Province, Iran

“…In a study by Khan et al, 20 30 commercial poultry E. coli isolates in Bangladesh reported erythromycin and tetracycline resistance percentages of 100 and 93.3, respectively. Wakawa et al 26 examined 67 E. coli isolates isolated from commercial poultry flocks with colibacillosis in Nigeria with the highest resistance to chloramphenicol (11.9%) and tetracycline (10.5%) and subsequently to them. Neomycin (5.9%), sulfamethoxazole (4.5%), enrofloxacin (0.3%), ampicillin (2.9%) and erythromycin (1.5%) were observed.…”

“…Multiple drug resistance to antibiotic compounds is a major problem and a common phenomenon seen in the majority of E. coli strains of the poultry pathogen in which bacterial isolates are resistant to at least two types of antibiotics. 26,27 Significant increases in the incidence of multiple resistance of E. coli isolates to antibiotic compounds over the last decade have been reported in many countries including Iran 7,15 Germany, 27 China, 28 Bangladesh, 29 India, 20 Algeria, 5 Nigeria, 21 and Zimbabwe. 16 In this study, all 178 isolates were resistant to three types of antibiotics and 145 isolates (81.14%) to 8 types of antibiotics out of 19 tested antimicrobial compounds, mainly due to their continued use without careful evaluation of the drug.…”

Comparative Study on the Predominance of Lactobacillus spp. and Escherichia Coli in Healthy vs Colibacillosis Diseased Broilers

“…In addition to that, poor biosecurity measures, inadequate nutrition, poor environmental conditions, and improper management practices are all associated with a higher risk of disease in broiler flocks, Habte et al (2017). Furthermore, the presence of certain strains of E. coli and reduction of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus can increase the risk of disease, Carvalho et al (2021); Sandine (1979); Sorescu et al (2021); Wakawa et al (2015).…”