Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella And Escherichia Coli Isolated From Day-Old Chicks, Vom, Nigeria

Abstract

Reports of large scale mortality of day-old-chicks were received at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria in 2007 to 2008. We investigated the cause of death using several virological and bacteriological techniques, isolated the pathogenic agents and carried out sensitivity tests. Our investigation revealed that Escherichia coli and Salmonella organisms were isolated in the outbreaks. A pattern of antibiotic resistance that seems to be increasing was also found. Considering the role of chickens and its products in the human food chain in Nigeria; and the close interaction between poultry and man, these resistant organisms may pose dangers to humans through the food chain or zoonotic infection and precipitate a similar pattern of resistance in man. We advocated for informed use of antibiotics in the food animals, especially poultry.