Authors : Samuel Majalija, Oweka Francis, Wito G. Sarah, Musisi- Lubowa, Patrick Vudriko and Frances M. Nakamya
Abstract: The study aimed at determining the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolates from the fecal samples of broiler chicken reared under dip litter system in the northern district of Lira and central district of Kampala Uganda from February to March, 2010. E. coli was isolated on McConkey media and confirmed by standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by Disc diffusion test using 6 drugs; ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin and tetracycline. Out of the 220 collected faecal samples, E. coli isolates were recovered from 182 (83%) of these 90.8% (109) and 73% (73) were from chickens in Lira and Kampala districts, respectively. A majority of isolates, 168 of 182 (87%) showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial and most of these (103, 61%) were from Lira district. Of the isolates resistant to 2 or more drugs from both Lira and Kampala district, a majority were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline in combination with cotrimoxazole. The emergence of multi-antimicrobial drug resistant E. coli in chicken from Uganda is probably due to inappropriate use of these drugs. There is need to implement measures which guard against misuse of antimicrobial drug in chicken production in order to minimize the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistant clones to the humans in close contact with the chicken.
Samuel Majalija, Oweka Francis, Wito G. Sarah, Musisi- Lubowa, Patrick Vudriko and Frances M. Nakamya, 2010. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles of Fecal Escherichia coli Isolates from Dip-Litter Broiler Chickens in Northern and Central Uganda. Veterinary Research, 3: 75-80.