PLASMID-BORNE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANT BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM POULTRY LITTER: IMPLICATION FOR CROP PRODUCTION

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance in poultry manure and implication for crop quality was investigated in this study. Poultry litter samples obtained from Delta State University farms located in Abraka (farm A) and Anwai (farm B) campuses were used in this study. Bacterial isolates were identified by cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics following standard methods. The distribution of bacteria from poultry litter was Escherichia coli (26.17%), which was the most predominant, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (11.41%), Streptococcus pyogenes (10.74%), Aeromonas hydrophilia (10.07%), klebsiella pneumonia (8.72%), Enterobacter aerogenes (8.05%), Proteus mirabilis (6.71%) Listeria monocytogenes (6.04%), Bacillus cereus (5.37%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (3.36%) and Salmonela enterica (3.36%). Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out on all isolates against 19 different antibiotics using disc diffusion methods. In order to determine the role plasmids play in resistance, curing tests were performed using Sodium dodecyl sulfate as the curing agent. The total bacteria count ranged from 5.0 x 10⁴ to 9.9 x 10⁴ in farm A and 1.5 x 10⁴ to 8.0 x 10⁴ in farm B. All isolates were multi drug resistance. No isolate (0.00%) were found to be resistant to amoxyxillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. Result also indicated that all isolates haboured resistance to one or more antibiotics on the plasmid. Poultry litter was found to contain a diversity of pathogens that haboured antibiotic resistance on plasmids. Raw fruits and vegetables are an essential part of people’s diet. These fruits and vegetables are usually grown with poultry litter which may be contaminated. Considering the roles plasmid play in dissemination of resistance, it is important that poultry litter be adequately treated by composting or by anaerobic digesters before use.