<b>Characterization of antimicrobial-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> from poultry birds in Ebonyi North, Nigeria</b>

Abstract

Background: The widespread use of antibiotics for disease prevention, and control has inadvertently upsurged the development of antibiotic resistance worldwide. Aim: This study was aimed to determine the occurrences and spread of antimicrobial resistance Escherichia coli in poultry birds at Ebonyi North. Methods: A total of 120 samples were collected from two different poultry farms in rural area of Ebonyi North. Standard microbiological methods were used to isolate, identify the isolates and confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Disc diffusion tests were used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Results: This study revealed the overall prevalence of E. coli as 36.7% from poultry birds. The highest prevalence of E. coli (41.7%) was observed from faecal droplets and least in trachea swabs (31.7%). The isolates were highly susceptible to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin with range of 80.0-100%. High level of resistance was observed among the isolates to ampicillin, and tetracycline with range of 45.5-75.0%. Thus, erythromycin, and streptomycin showed average inhibitory activity on the E. coli with range of 60.0-81.8%. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was reported in 35.3% of the E. coli isolates. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was reported to range from 0.5-0.8 with average index of 0.66. There was no statistically significant between the poultry sample source and MDR producing E. coli (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The widespread use of antibiotics in poultry farming as growth promotion and disease prevention is a key factor in the rise of MDR E. coli in poultry birds. To combat this growing problem, there is an urgent need for better surveillance, stricter regulations, and improved farm practices, including biosecurity measures and alternative disease control strategies.