Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol.

2024; 25 (2): 210-218

Ojja et al. Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210 – 218 [Link]

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology. ISSN 1595-689X Apr 2024; Vol.25 No.2
AJCEM/2305. [Link]

Copyright AJCEM 2024: [Link]

Original Article Open Access

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria from

Enterobacteriaceae family of laying chicken in
Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria
*1Ojja, C. V., 2Amosun, E. A., and 3Ochi, E. B.
1,2
Avian Medicine Programme, Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (Including
Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
2
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigeria
3
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan
*Correspondence to: [Link]@[Link]; vukenichris170@[Link]; +211923419563

Abstract:
Background: Antibiotics are significant for improving the health and productivity of chickens, but overuse and
misuse of antibiotics have led to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which has resulted in
ineffective treatment of infectious diseases with associated mortality in chicken and potential spread of AMR
pathogens to humans. The objective of the study was to evaluate the AMR profiles of Enterobacteriaceae from
faecal samples of laying chicken in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of 200 apparently healthy laying hens from 10 selected local
government areas of Ibadan, Nigeria, and from which cloacal samples were collected for isolation of
Enterobacteriaceae. Samples were first inoculated on tryptone soy broth (TSB) for enrichment and then sub-
cultured on MacConkey agar plates. Presumptive Escherichia coli isolates were sub-cultured on Eosin Methylene
Blue (EMB) agar and greenish metallic sheen colonies on EMB agar were identified as E. coli by colony
morphology and Gram stain microscopy. Commercial API (Analytical Profile Index) kit was used to confirm the
identity of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed by
the disc diffusion technique and result interpreted using the guideline of Clinical and Laboratory Standards
Institute. Data were analysed on STATA and p<0.05 was considered statistical significance.
Results: The results showed that out of 200 chicken samples, 190 were cultured positive, giving a colonization
rate of 95.0%, with 287 Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Escherichia coli (59.6%), Enterobacter spp., (27.9%), and
Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.5%) were the bacterial isolates identified. For antibiotic susceptibility, E. coli had
sensitivity rate of 78.2% to ciprofloxacin, 73.4% to ofloxacin, 71.8% to sparfloxacin, and 70.9% to pefloxacin,
and resistant rates to cotrimoxazole of 73.4%, streptomycin 65.4%, and other antibiotics 63.7%. Klebsiella
pneumoniae was sensitive to gentamicin (33.3%), ofloxacin (33.3%), and ciprofloxacin, but resistant to other
antibiotics. Enterobacter spp. was sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (93.8%), pefloxacin, and streptomycin
(70.3%), but resistant to ofloxacin (100.0%), cotrimoxazole (84.5%), chloramphenicol (68.8%), gentamicin
(64.1%), amoxicillin (60.9%) and ciprofloxacin (60.9%). A total of 29 resistance patterns were observed in 50
resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates with 12 MDR patterns observed in 54.0% (n=27) of the isolates.
Conclusion: This study reports faecal Enterobacteriaceae colonization rate of 95% of commercial poultry
chicken in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, belonging to three members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, with high
MDR patterns. The high AMR rates can lead to ineffective treatment of infectious diseases in chicken, with
associated mortality and a potential source for transmission of AMR pathogens to humans.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Enterobacteriaceae; Laying chicken; Ibadan; Nigeria

Received Oct 17, 2023; Revised Jan 25, 2024; Accepted Jan 27, 2024

Copyright 2024 AJCEM Open Access. This article is licensed and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attrition 4.0 Internation al
License <a rel="license" href="[Link] which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any
medium, provided credit is given to the original author(s) and the source. Editor-in-Chief: Prof. S. S. Taiwo

Profils de résistance aux antimicrobiens des bactéries de la

famille des Enterobacteriaceae des poules pondeuses
à Ibadan, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria
*1Ojja, C. V., 2Amosun, E. A., et 3Ochi, E. B.

210
Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

1,2
Programme de Médecine Aviaire, Institut des Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre de l'Université Panafricaine
(y Compris la Santé et l'Agriculture), Université d'Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigéria
2
Département de Microbiologie et de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université d'Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigéria
3
Département d'Etudes Cliniques, École de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Juba, Juba, Soudan du Sud
*Correspondance à: [Link]@[Link]; vukenichris170@[Link]; +211923419563

Résumé:
Contexte: Les antibiotiques sont importants pour améliorer la santé et la productivité des poulets, mais leur
utilisation excessive et inappropriée a conduit au développement d'une résistance aux antimicrobiens (RAM),
qui a entraîné un traitement inefficace des maladies infectieuses avec une mortalité associée chez les poulets et
une propagation potentielle de ces maladies. Agents pathogènes de la RAM pour les humains. L'objectif de
l'étude était d'évaluer les profils de RAM des Entérobactéries à partir d'échantillons fécaux de poules pondeuses
à Ibadan, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria.
Méthodologie: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale portant sur 200 poules pondeuses apparemment en
bonne santé provenant de 10 zones de gouvernement local sélectionnées d'Ibadan, au Nigeria, et à partir
desquelles des échantillons cloacaux ont été collectés pour l'isolement des Entérobactéries. Les échantillons ont
d'abord été inoculés sur un bouillon tryptone soja (TSB) pour enrichissement, puis repiqués sur des plaques de
gélose MacConkey. Des isolats présumés d'Escherichia coli ont été sous-cultivés sur une gélose à l'éosine et au
bleu de méthylène (EMB) et des colonies à reflets métalliques verdâtres sur une gélose EMB ont été identifiées
comme étant E. coli par la morphologie des colonies et la microscopie à coloration de Gram. Un kit commercial
API (Analytical Profile Index) a été utilisé pour confirmer l’identité des isolats d’entérobactéries. Les tests de
sensibilité aux antimicrobiens des isolats ont été réalisés par la technique de diffusion sur disque et les résultats
ont été interprétés selon les directives d’Institut des Normes Cliniques et de Laboratoire. Les données ont été
analysées sur STATA et p<0,05 a été considéré comme statistiquement significatif.
Résultats: Les résultats ont montré que sur 200 échantillons de poulets, 190 étaient cultivés positifs, soit un
taux de colonisation de 95,0%, avec 287 isolats d'Entérobactéries. Escherichia coli (59,6%), Enterobacter spp.
(27,9%) et Klebsiella pneumoniae (12,5%) étaient les isolats bactériens identifiés. Pour la sensibilité aux
antibiotiques, E. coli avait un taux de sensibilité de 78,2% à la ciprofloxacine, de 73,4% à l'ofloxacine, de
71,8% à la sparfloxacine et de 70,9% à la péfloxacine, et des taux de résistance au cotrimoxazole de 73,4%, à
la streptomycine de 65,4% et à d'autres antibiotiques de 63,7%. Klebsiella pneumoniae était sensible à la
gentamicine (33,3%), à l'ofloxacine (33,3%) et à la ciprofloxacine, mais résistante à d'autres antibiotiques.
Enterobacter spp était sensible à l'amoxicilline-acide clavulanique (93,8%), à la péfloxacine et à la
streptomycine (70,3%), mais résistant à l'ofloxacine (100,0%), au cotrimoxazole (84,5%), au chloramphénicol
(68,8%), à la gentamicine (64,1%), à l'amoxicilline (60,9 %) et ciprofloxacine (60,9%). Au total, 29 profils de
résistance ont été observés dans 50 isolats d'Enterobacteriaceae résistants, avec 12 profils MDR observés dans
54,0% (n=27) des isolats.
Conclusion: Cette étude rapporte un taux de colonisation fécale des Enterobacteriaceae de 95.0% des volailles
commerciales d'Ibadan, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria, appartenant à trois membres de la famille des
Enterobacteriaceae, avec des profils MDR élevés. Les taux élevés de RAM peuvent conduire à un traitement
inefficace des maladies infectieuses chez le poulet, avec une mortalité associée et une source potentielle de
transmission d'agents pathogènes RAM aux humains.

Mots-clés: Résistance aux antimicrobiens; Entérobactéries; Poulet pondeur; Ibadan; Nigeria

Introduction: ronmental and health implications due to the

creation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR),
The Enterobacteriaceae is a broad fa- leading to ineffective treatment of infectious
mily of Gram-negative bacteria that comprise diseases and death of animals and humans
both free-living and indigenous flora of the (10,11). In most rural and peri-urban areas
lower gastrointestinal tract of various animals of Nigeria and other developing countries,
and humans (1,2). The family comprises 51 antimicrobials are readily purchased for use
genera and 238 species (3–5). Most of their in chickens and humans without prescrip-
members live in the intestines of chickens tions, resulting in misuse, which has negati-
and humans, and have been widely studied vely affected their efficacy (3,12).
due to their obvious impact on human and In a global context, antimicrobials
animal health as well as agricultural practices such as antibiotics are widely used, at non-
(5,6). The important members of the Entero- therapeutic dosages, as growth promoters,
bacteriaceae family that cause food poison- and prophylaxis in chicken feeds, and water,
ing, gastroenteritis, enteric fever, and plague which sometimes last for long period, there-
include Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Ente- by predisposing to emergence of AMR strains
robacter spp., Citrobacter spp., Yersinia spp., of microorganisms (13). Also, when antibio-
Klebsiella spp., and Escherichia coli (3) . tics are excreted in chicken wastes, they can
Antimicrobials are important in imp- contaminate the environment, thereby facili-
roving chicken health and productivity in tating the widespread dissemination of AMR
poultry, cattle, and aquaculture (7–9). How- traits in the community (7–9,14).
ever, excessive use of antimicrobials has envi- The objective of this study is to det-

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Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

ermine the AMR profiles of Enterobacteria- greenish metallic sheen colonies on EMB agar
ceae isolates of faecal samples of laying chic- were selected for phenotypic identification,
ken in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, with the which included observation of colony morph-
aim of bridging significant knowledge gaps ology, Gram stain microscopy reaction, and
regarding the prevalence of this problem for commercial biochemical identification with
urgent public health responses as well deve- Analytical Profile Index (API) to confirm the
lop recommendations for farmers on the app- identity of E. coli and other bacteria isolates.
ropriate ways to apply antimicrobial medica-
Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST):
tions to increase poultry productivity, imp-
rove food security and prevent emergence of Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of
AMR pathogens. the isolates was performed by the disc diffu-
sion technique recommended by the Clinical
Materials and method: and Laboratory Standards Institute (17). Five
classes of antibiotics were tested which inclu
Study area: ded fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin,
The study was conducted in Ibadan, a pefloxacin, sparfloxacin); sulfonamide (co-tri-
city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, at moxazole); phenicol (chloramphenicol); peni-
coordinates of latitude 7° 22' 36.2496'' N and cillins (amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid);
longitude 3° 56' 23.2296'' E (Fig 1). Ibadan and aminoglycoside (gentamicin, streptomy-
is located at an elevation of 230 meters cin). The antibiotic discs used were amoxi-
above sea level and is divided into several cillin (AM, 30µg); amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
LGAs (15,16). (augmentin or AU 10µg); ofloxacin (tarivid or
OFX 10µg); sparfloxacin (SP 10µg); cipro-
Study design, participants and sample collec-
floxacin (CPX 30µg); pefloxacin (PEF 30µg);
tion:
chloramphenicol (CH 30µg); sulfamethoxa-
This was a descriptive cross-sectional
zole-trimethoprim (septrin or SXT 30µg); str-
study of 200 apparently healthy chickens
eptomycin (S 30µg) and gentamicin (CN 30
randomly selected from 10 poultry farms (20
µg).
per farm) in 10 LGAs (1 farm per LGA) in
Inoculum suspension of the overnight
Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria between Janu-
colonies of each isolate was prepared and
ary 1 and 31, 2023 (Table 1). Chicken that
adjusted to match the turbidity of 0.5 Mc-
exhibited symptoms and/or signs of sickness
Farland standards. Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar
were excluded from the study.
was inoculated with the suspension using a
Cloacal faecal samples were collected
sterile swab. A sterile forcep was used to
using sterile swab sticks, placed in cold box
place the antibiotic discs on the inoculated
with ice packs, and transported to the labo-
MH agar plate, and the seeded agar plates
ratory of Veterinary Microbiology Department
were incubated for 24 hours at 370C. The
of the University of Ibadan for microbiological
measurement of the diameter of inhibition
analysis.
zones around the antibiotic discs was done to
Isolation and identification of Enterobacteria- the nearest millimeter, and interpreted accor-
ceae isolates: ding to the guidelines of the Clinical and
Each sample was pre-enriched by ino- Laboratory Standards Institutes (17). Multi-
culating cloacae faecal swab into 9ml sterile drug resistance (MDR) in any isolate was de-
tryptone soy broth (TSB) in universal bottles, fined as resistance to antibiotics in 3 or more
and incubated at 370C for 18-24hrs. A loopful of the 5 classes of antibiotics tested (18).
of the pre-enrichment culture was inoculated
on MacConkey agar and incubated at 370C for Data analysis:
18-24hours. Rose pink colonies from Mac- Data were entered into the Microsoft
Conkey agar were sub-cultured onto Eosin Excel 2010, including the samples checklist,
Methylene Blue agar (EMB) and incubated at and laboratory results, before sending them
370C for 24 hrs. into STATA 17.0 version for analysis. All the
The rose-pink colonies on MacConkey results are presented in tables and graphs as
agar plates (putative E. coli) that showed frequencies, and percentages.

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Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

Fig 1: Map of the study area

Table 1: Distribution of laying chickens and sample collection with respect to the study location and local government areas
(LGAs) in Ibadan, Nigeria

Local Government Areas Farms Poultry type Samples collected Number of chicken
samples collected
Akinyele Elyon Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Ibadan North BL Goshe Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Lagelu Olu Oluwa Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Ibadan North East Freedom Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Ido His Grace Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Ibadan North West James’s Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Ona Ara Kay’s Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Egbeda Ayo’s Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Ibadan South East Twins’ Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20
Oluyole Sun Boy’s Laying Hens Cloacal fecal 20

Results: while 10 (5.0%) were culture negative. Three

species of bacteria belonging to family Ente-
Prevalence of faecal colonization of chicken robacteriaceae were isolated, with E. coli in
by Enterobacteriaceae: 121 chickens (60.5%), Enterobacter spp. in
Cloacal faecal samples of 190 chic- 46 chickens (23.0%), and Klebsiella pneumo-
kens were culture positive for Enterobacteria- niae in 23 chickens (11.5%) as shown in Fig
ceae, giving a colonization rate of 95.0% 2.

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Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

Number (Percentage) of colonized laying chicken

121 (60.5%)
140

120

100

80

60 46 (23.0%)
23 (11.5%)
40
10 (5.0%)

20

Escherichia coli Enterobacter spp Klebsiella spp No growth

Enterobacteriaceae isolates

Fig 2: Prevalence of faecal colonization of laying chickens by Enterobacteriaceae

180 171

160

140
Number (Percentgae) of isolates

120
Percentage

100

80
80

59.6
60

40
36
27.9

20 12.5

Escherichia coli Enterobacter spp Klebsiella spp

Fig 3: Frequency distribution of bacterial isolates from positive cultures

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 Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

Frequency distribution of the Enterobacteria- in Fig 3.

ceae isolates: The farms with the highest number of
A total of 287 bacterial isolates were isolates were Elyon and BL Goshe farm with
recovered from the 190 positive cultures, 39 (13.6%) each, followed by Freedom farm
with the most frequent being E. coli (171, with 33 (11.5%), and Sun’s Boy farm with 19
59.6%), Enterobacter spp. (80, 27.9%), and (6.6%) (p>0.05) as shown in Table 2.
Klebsiella pneumoniae (36, 12.5%) as shown

Table 2: Frequency distribution of Enterobacteriaceae isolates with respect to farms and local government areas in Ibadan

Sample location/ LGAs No of chicken No of LF No of NLF Total no of p value

farm sampled isolates isolates isolates (%)

Elyon Akinyele 20 25 14 39 13.6)

BL Goshe Ibadan North 20 19 20 39 (13.6)
Olu Oluwa Lagelu 20 21 09 30 (10.5)
Freedom farm Ibadan North East 20 17 16 33 (11.5)
His Grace Ido 20 11 12 23 (8.0)

p>0.05
James’s farm Ibadan North West 20 15 07 22 (7.7)
Kay’s farm Ona Ara 20 18 3 21 (7.3)
Ayo’s farm Egbeda 20 24 8 32 (11.5)
Twins Ibadan South East 20 22 7 29 (10.1)
Sun Boy’s farm Oluyole 20 11 8 19 (6.6)
Total 200 183 104 287 (100.0)
LF: Lactose fermenter; NLF: Non-lactose fermenter; LGA: Local Government Area

Table 3: Antibiotic susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae isolates from laying chicken in Ibadan, Nigeria

Antibiotic class Escherichia coli Klebsiella pneumoniae Enterobacter spp

Sensitive Resistant Sensitive Resistant Sensitive Resistant
n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%)

Penicillin
AM 171 (100.0) 0 12 (33.3) 24 (66.7) 25 (39.1) 39 (60.9)
AU 128 (75.0) 43 (25.0) 10 (27.8) 26 (72.2) 60 (93.8) 4 (6.2)

Fluoroquinolones
OFX 118 (69.0) 53 (31.0) 19 (52.8) 17 (47.2) 0 64 (100)
SP 10 (6.0) 161 (94.0) 17 (47.2) 19 (52.8) 30 (46.9) 34 (53.1)
CPX 147 (86.0) 24 (14.0) 25 (69.4) 11 (30.6) 25 (39.1) 39 (60.9)
PEF 125 (73.0) 46 (27.0) 19 (52.8) 17 (47.2) 45 (70.3) 19 (29.7)

Phenicol
CH 100 (58.0) 71 (42.0) 10 (27.8) 26 (72.2) 20 (31.3) 44 (68.8)

Sulfonamide
SXT 50 (29.0) 121 (71.0) 8 (22.2) 28 (77.8) 10 (15.6) 54 (84.4)

Aminoglycoside
S 48 (28.0) 123 (72.0) 12 (33.3) 24 (66.7) 45(70.3) 19 (29.7)
CN 21(12.0) 150 (88.0) 0 36 (100.0) 23 (35.9) 41 (64.1)
AM=amoxicillin; AU=amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (Augmentin); OFX=ofloxacin (Tarivid); SP=Sparfloxacin; CPX=ciprofloxacin; PEF=pefloxacin;
CH=chloramphenicol; SXT=sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Septrin); S=streptomycin; CN=gentamicin

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 Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

Table 4: Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Enterobacteriaceae isolates from laying chicken in Ibadan, Nigeria

Antibiotics Resistance pattern Number of resistant isolates

Escherichia coli Enterobacter spp Klebsiella spp Total isolates

OFX Mono resistance 2 0 0 2

S Mono resistance 0 2 0 2
CH Mono resistance 0 0 1 1
SP Mono resistance 1 0 0 1
CPX Mono resistance 0 0 1 1
AU Mono resistance 0 1 1 2
AM Mono resistance 1 0 0 1
CN Mono resistance 0 1 1 2
PEF Mono resistance 0 0 1 1
SXT Mono resistance 1 0 0 1
OFX-S Double resistance 0 2 0 2
OFX-CH Double resistance 0 0 2 2
OFX-CPX Double resistance 1 0 0 1
OFX-AU Double resistance 0 1 0 1
OFX-AM Double resistance 1 0 0 1
OFX-CN Double resistance 0 1 0 1
OFX-SXT Double resistance 1 0 0 1
OFX-S-CH MDR (Triple resistance) 1 1 0 2
OFX-S-AU MDR (Triple resistance) 0 0 1 1
OFX-S-AM MDR (Triple resistance) 0 1 0 1
OFX-S-SXT MDR (Triple resistance) 1 0 0 1
OFX-S, CH-AU MDR (Quadruple resistance) 1 0 0 1
OFX-S, CH-AM MDR (Quadruple resistance) 0 0 1 1
OFX-S-CH-SXT MDR (Quadruple resistance) 0 1 0 1
S-CH-CPX-AU MDR (Quadruple resistance) 0 1 1 2
S-CH-CPX-AM MDR (Quadruple resistance) 1 0 0 1
S-CH-CPX-AU-SXT MDR (Quintuple resistance) 0 1 0 1
OFX-S-CH-AU-SXT MDR (Quintuple resistance) 2 0 0 2
S-CH-AM-PEF-SXT MDR (Quintuple resistance) 7 4 2 13
Total 21 17 12 50
A total of 29 resistance patterns were observed in 50 resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates, with 10 mono-resistance (14 isolates, 28.0%), 7 double
resistance (9 isolates, 18.0%) and 12 multi-drug resistance patterns (27 isolates, 54.0%). AM=amoxicillin; AU=amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
(Augmentin); OFX=ofloxacin (Tarivid); SP=Sparfloxacin; CPX=ciprofloxacin; PEF=pefloxacin; CH=chloramphenicol; SXT=sulfamethoxazole-
trimethoprim (Septrin); S=streptomycin; CN=gentamicin; MDR= Multidrug resistance

Antibiotic susceptibility test results: tes, 28.0%), 7 double resistance (9 isolates,

Escherichia coli isolates showed 78.2% 18.0%) and 12 MDR patterns (27 isolates,
sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, 73.4% to ofloxa- 54.0%), with MDR patterns varying from res-
cin, 71.8% to sparfloxacin, and 70.9% to pe- istance to 3 to 5 antibiotic classes (Table 4).
floxacin but resistant to sulfamethoxazole-
trimethoprim (73.4%), streptomycin (65. 4%), Discussion:
and to other antibiotics (63.7%). About 22%
of Klebsiella pneumoniae were susceptible to Antimicrobial drugs are commonly used
gentamicin, 33.3% to ofloxacin, 33.3% to ci- in poultry, livestock, and aquaculture at non-
profloxacin, and 44.5% to other antibiotics. therapeutic dosages as growth promoters and
Enterobacter spp were resistant to ofloxacin prophylaxis in feeds and water for protracted
(100%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (84.5%), periods thereby contributing to the develop-
chloramphenicol (68.8%), gentamicin (64.1%), ment and spread of resistant organisms (8).
ciprofloxacin (60.9%) while being sensitive to Additionally, the misuse of antimicrobials and
amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (93.8%), pefloxa other drugs in household chickens may pro-
cin (70.3%) and streptomycin (70.3%) (Table mote the zoonotic transmission of AMR path-
3). ogens, thereby posing a threat to animal and
A total of 29 resistance patterns were human health (10). The failure to complete
observed in 50 resistant Enterobacteriaceae the prescribed course of antimicrobials or the
isolates, with 10 mono-resistance (14 isola- preservation of medication for future use in

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Faecal carriage of AMR Enterobacteriaceae in laying chicken Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2024; 25 (2): 210-218

chickens and humans can lead to inappro- consumption of contaminated poultry produ-
priate usage, which could trigger the develo- cts (7,14), may acquire these resistant bac-
pment of resistance in bacterial strains (19). terial strains. Our study isolated and identi-
The over-reliance on antibiotics such as tet- fied a high number of AMR pathogenic bacte-
racycline as growth promoters in chickens ria from cloacae swabs, showing that these
can also lead to the development of resis- bacteria could contaminate poultry meats and
tance, and consuming poultry products can other poultry products.
transmit antimicrobial resistance to humans.
However, in Nigeria, there has been report of Conclusion:
circulation of Enterobacteriaceae strains amo-
ng chickens and animal populations (7) . This present study showed high rates
In this study, the overall prevalence of faecal colonization of commercial poultry
of the chicken colonization by Enterobacteria- chickens in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria with
ceae was 95.0% (190/200) with isolation of MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolates (E. coli, Ent-
three members of this family; E. coli in erobacter spp., and K. pneumoniae). The
60.5% (121/200), Enterobacter spp in 27.9% high prevalence of these MDR isolates may
(46/200) and Klebsiella pneumoniae in 11.5% be attributed to poor hygiene, improper use
(23/200) from commercial laying chickens in of biosecurity measures, poor sanitation, and
the 10 LGAs studied. Regrettably, poultry excessive administration of antibiotics in
farms have contributed to environmental poultry production. Our study recommends
contamination with antibiotic-resistant bacte- the need to ensure appropriate use of anti-
ria, primarily members of the family Entero- biotics in poultry production in order to pre-
bacteriaceae, which are transmitted to chic- vent severe economic implications for poultry
kens, livestock, and humans through direct production and threats of AMR emergence
contact or through contaminated food pro- and spread to the human population.
ducts (20,21). Similar studies carried out in
Nigeria in 2011 and 2019 showed compara- Acknowledgements:
tively similar results (7,22). Furthermore,
Ibrahim et al., (23) reported E. coli as a The authors appreciated Pan African
common enteric pathogen, specific strains of University Life and Earth Sciences Institute
which can cause human and animal disease. (Including Health and Agriculture), University
In the current study, E. coli was the of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the technical support
most frequently recovered bacteria in 59.6% from the staffs at Laboratory of Microbiology
(171/287). This might be due to poor hygi- and Parasitology, University of Ibadan.
ene practices and sanitation status, as well as
lack of biosecurity in the farms, consistent Contributions of authors:
with previous research conducted in Ethiopia
(24). Most of the previous studies demons- OCV was involved in data collection,
trated that the frequency of E. coli from isolation and write up, while EAA and EBO
chicken faeces could vary greatly with the were involved in research supervision, guid-
time of sample collection, chicken age, and ance and correction of the manuscript. All
authors approved the manuscript submitted
the diet (21). The high prevalence of bacteria
from the Enterobacteriaceae family is a signi- for publication.
ficant problem for commercial poultry bree-
ders, as reported by Khouja et al (13).
Source of funding:
The Enterobacteriaceae isolates in The research was fully funded by the
our study were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ofl- African Union Commission (AUC) through Pan
oxacin, sparfloxacin, and pefloxacin but were African University Life and Earth Sciences
largely resistant to cotrimoxazole, streptom- Institute (Including Health and Agriculture),
ycin, and other antibiotics. According to University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Awogbemi et al., (14), E. coli isolated from
Portuguese poultry were reported to be hig- Conflict of interest:
hly resistant to tetracycline (70.0%) and am-
picillin (63.0%) while low level of resistance No conflict of interest is declared.
was observed with co-trimoxazole (33.0%),
gentamicin (17.0%) and co-amoxiclav (17%). References:
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