Abstract

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Fluoroquinolones are broad spectrum antimicrobial agents used to treat infections caused by microbial pathogens especially those resistant to other classes of antimicrobial drugs. The introduction of fluoroquinolones into veterinary therapy has been accompanied by an increase in resistance. Salmonella represents a challenge in modern animal production. This study determined the incidence of fluoroquinolone (and non fluoroquinolones) resistant Salmonella from intensively reared pigs and chickens in Nsukka, an area representative of the emerging trend in intensive animal production in Nigeria. Standard cultural techniques were used to randomly sample 120 animals (60 pigs and 60 chickens) from 12 medium to large scale farms, and from which were obtained a total of five (5) Salmonella isolates (4.17%). Two isolates showed 100% (5/5) resistance to 5 fluoroquinolones while 3 isolates showed 100% (5/5) susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. For non fluoroquinolones two isolates showed 11.1% (1/9) resistance, 22.2% (2/9) intermediate resistance and 66.7% (6/9) susceptibility; one isolate showed 100% (9/9) susceptibility; 1 isolate showed 33.3% (3/9) resistance and 66.7% (6/9) susceptibility. Four isolates were more susceptible to non fluoroquinolones than fluoroquinolones while 2 isolates were more susceptible to fluoroquinolones than non fluoroquinolones. The implications of this resistance patterns are discussed.

Keywords: Salmonella, Antibiotic resistance, Fluoroquinolones, Pigs, Poultry