Authors : E.Z. Mushi , M.G. Binta , R.G. Chabo , M.M. Mogametsi and E.K. Samakabadi
Abstract: Escherichia coli was isolated from broiler chickens submitted to the Botswana College of Agriculture Animal Health Clinic from January 2001 to December 2002 either as live, sick or dead birds. The bacterium was recovered from 603 (66.6%) of the 906 chickens subjected to a post-mortem examination. Infection due to E. coli accounted for 50% of all broiler mortality. The number of cases increased almost threefold over a 12 month period. The rate of infection was significantly higher (p = 0.05) during the rainy season (74.1�6.9%) than during the dry season (57.0�8.7%). Antibiotic sensitivity showed that more than 50% of all the E. coli isolates were resistant to 5 out of 8 the antimicrobial agents tested. The magnitude of resistance was highest for ampicillin, cephalothin, sulphatrid and tetracycline. The E. coli isolates were sensitive to cotrimoxazole (sulphamethoxazole plus trimethoprim) and colistin sulphate. Results from this study, showed a high prevalence rate of E. coli isolates with variable resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents. The dynamics of the infection, possible predisposing factors, antimicrobial sensitivity test on isolates and the public health implications as well as remedial action to circumvent antibiotic resistance are discussed. This is the first report of E. coli infection among chickens uncomplicated by concurrent infection due to other pathogens.
E.Z. Mushi , M.G. Binta , R.G. Chabo , M.M. Mogametsi and E.K. Samakabadi , 2008. Escherichia coli Infections in Chicken Broilers in Sebele, Gaborone, Botswana. Research Journal of Poultry Sciences, 2: 29-34.