Antimicrobial resistance against fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pnuemoniae in chickens entering the food chain in Mwanza, Tanzania
- Journal of Microbiology & Experimentation
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Emmanuel L Mayenga,1
Godwin A Minga,2
Christina P Edward,2
Proscovia Kagaruki,2
Tumwi Salah,2
Ronald Benju,3
Bakari Nganga,3
Gebonce Kayuni,4
Pascale Ondoa,5
Edwin
Shumba,5
Ivan Lumu6
Abstract
The use of antimicrobials in poultry production accelerated the emergency and spread
of antimicrobial resistance. AMR data of commensal resistant bacteria in chicken to
antibiotics considered essential in animals and humans is lacking in poor countries. This
study was conducted to determine the resistance patterns of E. coli, K. pnuemoniae, and
ESBL producing bacteria to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins in healthy chickens, and
to assess the risk that can be posed by resistant bacteria to humans. A cross-sectional and
time series study was conducted to obtain faeces from healthy chickens from biosecurity
level 1 and 2 poultry farms between May and September 2021. Bacterial isolates were
identified by biochemical test. Disc diffusion method was used to test susceptibility of E.
coli and K. pneumoniae isolates to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and cefepime according to
CLSI standard. A total of 200 pooled fresh faecal samples were collected; 189 samples were
from biosecurity level 1 and 11 were from level 2. Similarly, 104 samples were collected
from layers and 96 from broiler chickens. In total, 150 strains were isolated: 80 were from
broiler samples; and 70 strains were from layer chicken samples. Overall, the prevalence of
E. coli was 75%; and no K. pneumoniae was isolated. The resistance of E. coli was 63.3%
against ciprofloxacin, 0.7% against ceftriaxone, and 0% against cefepime. No ESBLproducing E. coli was detected. This study revealed that resistance to fluoroquinolones is
high and that of cephalosporins is emerging in poultry production. The risk associated with
high prevalence of commensal E. coli is significant due to transmission of AMR to human
via food and environmental contamination.
Keywords
antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobials, chickens, E. coli, Klebsiella pnuemoniae
