Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
The misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming is a growing concern due to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study investigated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of some bacterial species isolated from broiler and layer chickens in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. A total of 600 chickens from backyard and commercial poultry farms were sampled. Standard bacteriological methods were used for isolation and identification of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. The antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates was assessed using the disk diffusion method. Results showed that 80.3% of the chickens harbored at least one of the targeted bacterial species. E. coli was the most prevalent (45.8%), followed by Salmonella spp. (37.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (15.3%), Streptococcus spp. (13.5%), and Enterococcus spp. (8.7%). Antibiotic resistance testing revealed high levels of resistance across all isolates, with multi-drug resistance recorded in a significant number of cases. E. coli and Salmonella spp. exhibited resistance rates exceeding 50% to ampicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin G. A survey of 150 poultry farmers highlighted that 78.7% use antibiotics prophylactically, often based on advice from non-veterinarians, which is a statistically significant (p < 0.001) risk factor for the emergence of resistant bacteria. Only 16.7% of farmers obtained antibiotics based on veterinary prescriptions, and awareness of antimicrobial resistance among farmers was relatively low (42.0%). The outcome of the study underscores the urgent need for improved antibiotic stewardship and farmer education to mitigate the risk of antibiotic resistance in poultry farming.

Keywords: Anti-microbial resistance; Poultry; Farmers; Enterobacteria; Chickens; Microbiota; Gram-positive organisms; Stewardship; Maiduguri Nigeria.

How to cite this article:
Lawal JR, Ndahi JJ, Lawan FA, Ejeh FE, Sadiq HY, Sarki MJ, Hussain I (2024).
Antibiogram and risk factors for carriage of some antimicrobial-resistant bacteria species
in chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria. Journal of Veterinary and
Applied Sciences, 14(2): 744 – 769.

*Correspondence: E-mail: rabana4real@unimaid.edu.ng Phone: +2348032886428

Antibiogram and risk factors for carriage of some antimicrobial-resistant bacteria species in chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria

Jallailudeen R. Lawal ¹ *, Juliana J. Ndahi ², Fatima A. Lawan ², Francis E. Ejeh ², Hafiz Y. Sadiq ¹, Maryam J. Sarki ¹, Ibrahim Hussain ¹
¹Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
²Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.