Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Salmonellae isolated from poultry from different districts of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Salmonella is one of the most common bacterial pathogens of poultry which not only affect poultry; its transmission to human food chain is a threat to public safety. The irrational use of antibiotics in poultry industry has resulted in antibiotic resistant strains. Aim of the present study was to isolate, characterize and determine antibiotic susceptibility pattern of salmonellae. A total of 150 samples including droppings, liver and intestinal content of poultry were collected from different Districts of Punjab. Out of 150 samples, 44.66% (n=67) were positive for salmonellae. Salmonellae were identified using genus specific and serovar specific polymerase chain reactions. Out of 67 salmonellae, there were 34(52.3%) Salmonella gallinarum, 21(31.34%) Salmonella enteritidis and 12 (17.91%) unidentified salmonellae. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of all the isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Overall, salmonellae (n=67) showed higher level (≥75%) of resistance to nalidixic acid (98.5%), ampicillin (98%) and amoxicillin (95.5%), intermediate level (>40%- <75%) of resistance to gentamicin (61.2%), chloramphenicol (61.2%), tetracycline (59.7%), ciprofloxacin (67.2%) and ceftazidime (52.3%) and low level (≤40%) of resistance to cefotaxime (31.4%), ceftriaxone (26.9%), sulfamethoxazole (26.9%) and cefixime (20.9%). Occurrence of antibiotic resistant salmonellae in poultry insinuate for its continuous monitoring and exploration of alternatives of antibiotics for its control in poultry and further transmission to human beings.