Prevalence and Antibiogram of Bacterial Species in Litter of Selected Poultry Farms in Idi-Ayunre Community, Oyo State, Nigeria

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics within poultry sector of the animal agriculture threatens public health due to its aftermath effect arising from the release of resistant pathogens to the environment. This study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility status of bacterial species isolated from litter of selected poultry farms within Idi Ayunre, a poultry-dense community in Oyo State. Poultry droppings (5 g) was collected each from six (6) randomly selected farms and bacteria isolated using Brain Heart Infusion agar (BHI), MacConkey agar (MCA), Eosin methylene blue agar (EMB) and Salmonella Shigella agar (SSA) media respectively via pour plate technique. Bacterial isolates were identified via morphological and biochemical tests and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern determined via Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method using multi-disc antibiotics. Farm A had highest Total Heterotrophic Count (THC, 8.43 Log₁₀CFU/mL) and Total Enterobacteriaceae Count (TEC, 6.32 Log₁₀CFU/mL). However, Farm C had lowest THC and TEC (7.18 Log₁₀CFU/mL and 4.48 Log₁₀CFU/mL respectively), while Farm B had lowest Total Coliform Count (TCC, 4.70 Log₁₀CFU/mL) with the highest being Farm D (6.08 Log₁₀CFU/mL). Also Farm D had the highest (8.15 Log₁₀CFU/mL) Salmonella-Shigella Count (SSC) with Farm E having the lowest (4.85 Log₁₀CFU/mL). Isolates obtained were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp, Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Salmonella sp., Enterobacter sp. and Shigella sp. Across the farms, S. aureus, Bacillus sp. and E. coli were isolated, while Shigella sp. was isolated only from Farm D. The bacteria isolates were found to be multidrug resistant towards the tested antibiotics, showing susceptibility only to gentamicin and ofloxacin. This study therefore showed that birds’ droppings from poultry farms in Idi Ayunre community serve as carrier of multidrug resistant pathogens. Hence, the need for a cautious use of antibiotics among Idi Ayunre poultry farmers.