Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has continued to constitute serious problems not only in clinical medicine but also in livestock management and veterinary medicine. The present study was carried out to determine the occurrence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) from fecal samples in Poultry and Cattle farming in Ovia North East local government area, Benin City, Edo State. 

A total of 100 fecal samples were collected randomly from apparently healthy cattle and poultry birds. Heterotrophic bacteria, Coliforms and E. coli were cultured using standard procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the E. coli isolates were carried out using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. ESBL phenotypic detection was carried out using ETEST® ESBL strips. Molecular detection of tem, shv, ctx-m and oxa genes were carried out using standard molecular methods. 

The mean heterotrophic bacteria count from chicken fecal samples was 5.56±0.21x106cfu/g, while that of cattle fecal samples was 4.91±0.33x106cfu/g. The mean total coliform count from chicken fecal samples was 3.73±0.14x106cfu/g while that of cattle fecal samples was 3.28±0.22x106cfu/g respectively. Sixty eight E. coli isolates were recovered from the 100 samples, out of which 13 (19.1%) suspected isolates for phenotypic ESBL production testing were selected based on a ≥0.6 multiple resistance index criteria to the 10 broad-spectrum antibiotics used during antibiotic susceptibility test. Five of these isolates were positive for ESBL by ETEST® ESBL strips. Consequently, out of the 5, tem, oxa and shv genes were detected in 2(40%), 3(60%) and 4(80%) of the isolates respectively. Only the ctx-m genes (100%) was detected in all isolates. Cattle fecal samples had more carriage of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing E. coli than chicken fecal samples, suggesting that E. coli isolates from cattle possessed more beta-lactamase genes than E. coli isolates from chicken. This study showed high resistance of E. coli isolates (15-42.50 %) to antibiotics and the presence of beta-lactamase genes in these isolates from animals within the studied locale. These findings are of significant concern to public health because of the inevitable interaction between man, microorganisms and the environment. Regular monitoring and regulated use of antibiotics in livestock are recommended.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, extended spectrum beta lactamases, ESBL phenotypic detection, antibiotic resistance, cattle, chicken