ABSTRACT

Raw chicken intestine presents an ideal substrate supporting the growth of bacteria pathogenic to humans such as E. coli. When consumed, these contaminated intestines constitute a major source of food-borne illnesses in humans. Chicken intestine can also act as a reservoir of drug resistant bacteria. This study was carried out to determine the E. coli contamination levels, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of E. coli isolated from raw chicken intestine selected from the farm centre in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State Southeastern Nigeria. Contamination of retail chicken intestine by bacteria such as E. coli can occur at slaughter, during packaging, during transportation to retail outlets. If the problem is not checked, these resistant E. coli may colonize the human intestinal tract and may contribute resistant genes to human endogenous flora as well as other pathogenic micro-organisms thus causing infections with limited therapeutic options. Chicken intestine were obtained at the farm centre of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. These were collected in sterile sample bottles and transported to the microbiology laboratory for analysis between August to September 2018. Enumeration of E. coli from the chicken samples was performed. Colony counts for each plate were done, the microbial count in colony forming units per ml (cfu/ml) rinse water was obtained from the samples. After incubation, the plates were examined and a single colony selected for confirmative identification of E. coli through biochemical tests. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test susceptibility of the isolated E. coli to antibiotics commonly used in animal and human health. Antimicrobial sensitivity test and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) of each of the isolate was done according to the recommendations reported by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 2012. The antibiotic resistance pattern of E.coli isolates from poultry intestine against 5 conventional antibiotics indicates highest in ofloxacin(23%) and peflacin(23%) respectively and lowest in cipitofloxacin (8%).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of contents v

Abstract vii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Statement of the problem 1

1.1   Aims and Objectives 2

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1   Poultry production 3 

2.2   Biology of E. coli 4

2.2.1   Sources of contamination by E. coli in chicken intestine 5

2.3   Antimicrobial consumption in food producing animals 5

2.4   Antimicrobial resistance 6

2.4.1   Antimicrobial resistance in E. coli isolated from poultry 7

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1   Study site and Study samples 9

3.2   Laboratory Procedures 9

3.2.1   Enumeration of E. coli 9

3.2.2   Isolation and presumptive identification of E. coli 10

3.2.3   Biochemical tests 11

3.2.4   Antimicrobial Susceptibility testing 12

3.3 Determination of Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) Index 13

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS

4.1 Presentation of Result 14

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Discussion 20

5.2 Conclusions 21

5.3 Recommendations 21

References 22

Appendix