Abstract

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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a growing public health challenge. Although MRSA has been detected in pigs and other livestock in Nigeria, there are few reports on the prevalence and public health implications of MRSA in chickens. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in selected poultry farms in Odeda local government area of Ogun state. Nasal and cloacal swab samples were collected from one hundred and fifty egg-laying birds from ten poultry farms within the local government area. Swab samples were also collected from nasal and hands of twenty-five poultry workers. All samples were screened for the presence of MRSA. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the MRSA isolates was determined using disc diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 86 (57.3%) of the birds, and 19 (76%) of the farm workers. The prevalence of MRSA in layers and workers were 16.0% and 20.0% respectively. The prevalence of MRSA in the layers in different farms ranged from 0% to 33.3%. The MRSA isolates showed high level of resistance to oxacillin (100%), cefuroxime (79%), streptomycin (72%), erythromycin (72%), amoxicillin (72%), gentamycin (65%) and tetracycline (62%). The study further revealed the irrational usage of antimicrobials and poor hygienic practices in most of the poultry farms. The presence of multi-drug resistant MRSA in poultry farms therefore poses a risk not only to the birds, but also the farm workers, consumers and community.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, egg-laying birds, MRSA, poultry workers, prevalence