ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance profile of lactic acid bacteria isolated from some selected animal faeces. A total of Twelve (12) faecal samples were collected from some pigs and poultry in Umudike, Ikwuano local government of Abia state and each sample was put into different polyethene bags. All samples were cultured using the spread plate method on MRS agar and incubated. A total of 14 Lactic acid bacteria comprising of 3 different species were isolated from the poultry faeces. The details of these lactic acid bacterial isolate comprises of  Lactobacillus  fermentum, Lactococcus  lactis and Lactobacillus reuteri. it was observed that Lactobacillus fermentum is the most frequently occurring isolates with a percentage occurrence of 8(57.1%), followed by Lactobacillus reuteri with a percentage occurrence of 4(28.6%), then Lactococcus lactis with a percentage occurrence of 2(14.3%). The antibiotic profile of the isolates reviewed that LAB regardless of species obtained from faecal samples showed high sensitivity to Levofloxacin (92.9%) followed by Ofloxacin (85.7%), Ciprofloxacin (78.6%) then, Gentamicin (71.4%) whereas the resistance profile of Lactic acid bacteria isolates to antibiotics reviewed that the Lactic acid bacteria isolates exhibited high rate of resistance to Augmentin and Ceftaxidime with percentage resistance of (100%), this is followed by Cefotaxime (92.9%), Erythromycin (85.7%), Cetriaxone (71.4%) and Azithromycin (71.4%). These results indicate that LAB may develop resistance against antibiotic that may result from the horizontal transferring of resistant gene to other microflora in the gut. The development of resistance to antibiotic can be attributed to long term usage of antibiotic as therapeutics and growth promoter. Thus, it is important and essential to advise the farmer a proper way of antibiotic use as therapeutic and growth promoter agents. Additionally, supplementation of unknown source of probiotic as feed additive needs to be monitored closely in animal feeding.