ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to assess the Extended Spectrum beta Lactamase profile of Salmonella organisms from soil of different poultry farms. Soil samples were collected from different poultry farms in Umuahia, Abia State and the samples were collected aseptically into a sterile plastic and labeled accordingly, they were transported immediately to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. The antimicrobial sensitivity test and the beta-lactamase test of the Salmonella-like species were carried out using the methods of Kirby Bauer sensitivity test and the double disk Synergy test respectively, following isolation and identification of the organisms from poultry soil. Results revealed that Salmonella-like species were most highly resistant to Nalidixic acid (20), (66.7%), followed by Tetracycline (19), (63.3%), Cotrimoxazole, Amoxicillin and Augmentin (18), (60%), while the least was Ofloxacin (8), (26.7%). Multiple resistance of 4 or more antibiotics among the isolates from the soil outside the broilers enclosure was observed, while there was a significant difference (P>0.05) between poultry soil and control soil. This implied that the antibiotics with the highest resistance were most often applied to the birds, the droppings of which contaminated the soil. The resistant pattern of the isolates from the control soil is lower than that from the poultry soil. Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase activity was expressed by all the isolates against Cefotazime, while the least resistance was against mostly Cefotazime. It is concluded that there is a widespread Beta-lactamase activity causing antibiotic resistance by many species of bacteria as well as poultry Salmonella, thus exacerbating the global problem of antibiotic resistance and a serious health related implication for antibiotic use in poultry