Abstract

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Poultry are increasingly being associated with carriage of multi-resistant organisms that may cause disease in humans. This study evaluated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from poultry in Imo State Nigeria. One hundred and thirty (130) Enterococcns spp. were isolated from cloacal swabs, fecal and litter samples from different poultry farms. The isolates were characterized microbiologically and biochemically by fermentation tests. Theywere then evaluated for their resistance to 10 antibiotics by agar disk diffusion method. The most predominant specie as identified was E. faecium (43.1%), followed by E. faecal is(223%), while 34.6% were grouped as Enterococcns spp. High frequencies of resistance were observed among the isolates for erythromycin (80%), quinupristine/ dalfopristine (72.3%) and ciprofloxacin (72.3%) with vancomycin having the lowest resistance rates (43.1%). A total of 121 isolates were multiple resistant, with 11 being resistant to all 10 antibiotics tested. The multiple antimicrobial resistances (MAR) index therefore ranged from 0.3 to 1.00. The isolates exhibited a high level of variability with 85 resistant patterns identified among them. These isolates could serve as active reservoirs for antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes. Improved hygiene practices and controlled use of antibiotics in agriculture and animal husbandry are therefore desirable for environmental management and public health protection

Keywords: enterococci, antimicrobial agents, poultry, antimicrobial resistance, vancomycin