Antibiotic Treatment and Antibiogram Profiles of E.coli Isolated from Selected Poultry Farms in Ido-Ekiti

Aims: Antibiotic therapy in poultry is alleged to spread multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria. This study seeks to correlate antibiotic treatment in poultry with the occurrence of multiple bacterial resistances to critically important antibiotics and also determine the potential sources of acquisition of these bacteria.

Study Design: Experimental design.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti between February 2017 and December 2019.

Methodology: Data on antibiotic treatment, poultry management practices and use of natural water bodies in the area of study were collected from farm managers and residents using a questionnaire. The locations of the source area and their relative distances were determined using the Geographical System Information Software, Mapit. Fresh fecal droppings from poultry birds were randomly sampled with a sterile swab stick and transferred into a freshly-procured, sealed, factory-packed polythene bag. Farm feed, water, and soil from disposal sites were also collected in sterile universal containers. The suspension of the fecal droppings was streaked on Eosin Methylene Blue agar plates with sterile wire loop and incubated at 37 °C for 18-24 hours. Soil and water samples from the waste disposal sites were serially diluted and streaked as previously. The isolates were characterized using relevant biochemical tests. Modified Kirby Bauer method was used to determine the isolates’ susceptibility to nine tested antibiotics, and the results were interpreted based on CLSI guidelines.

Results: Most of the examined birds, (92%) were exposed to antibiotics, of which 64% of the antibiotics were administered for therapeutic purposes, prophylaxis (27%) and enhancement of egg production in layers (9%). All the antibiotics were administered by mixing them in a specified quantity of water. The majority (46%) of the birds were first exposed to antibiotics at the age of 2 weeks. Routine charts were used by 25% of the farmers for the administration of antibiotics. Data from farm records show that eleven antibiotics were selectively used on the farms. Sulfonamide and diaveridine, an anti-coccidiostat, were administered in most of the farms (50%), while tylosine, metronidazole and chloramphenicol recorded the least (8.3%). Carbapenem, penicillin, and cephalosporin were not administered. From the data obtained on antibiotics-presence in two retail markets, tetracycline, neomycin, gentamycin and erythromycin were available in both retail markets, cephalosporins, meropenem, and metronidazole were not sold for poultry consumption. Both the percentage occurrences of E. coli from fresh poultry droppings (44.1%) and waste disposal sites (33.3%) were relatively low. Higher antibiotic percentage resistance to ciprofloxacin (87%), ofloxacin (83%), sulfonamide, and tetracycline (78%) were found in the isolates. Multiple antibiotic-resistant profiles occurred in patterns and different patterns were replicated across various farms. Also, 46 multiple antibiotic-resistant patterns were recorded, and two of these patterns (AMC, CIP, OFX, CN, SXT, TET and CRO, CAZ, AMC, CIP, OFX, CN, MEM, SXT) were spread across 50% of the farms. There was history of diarrhea in some respondents (12%), linked to human exposure to contaminated natural water bodies. From correlation studies, both data on antibiotic treatment and that from market survey were directly related to the antibiotic-resistant profiles of isolates. The Spearman correlation coefficient are (rs (3) = 0.866, p = .333) and (rs (3) = 0 .667, p = .500) respectively.

Conclusion: The development and spread of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria of poultry origin are primarily attributed to poor antibiotic formulation policy, crude antibiotic treatment on poultry farms, and indiscriminate supply of antibiotics to untrained poultry personnel. The effectiveness of the super drugs used for the treatment of superbugs in poultry birds may be undermined if policies on the antibiotic formulation, dispensing, and therapy are not reviewed.