Isolation and antibiotic sensitivity of species from fecal samples of broiler chickens in North West Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Infections with species have gained recognition as the most frequent cause of foodborne gastroenteritis globally. Their significance in South Africa is still an area of study interest. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the occurrence of species in chickens from North West Province of South Africa as well as their antibiotic sensitivity status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 2400 chicken fecal samples were collected and pooled to a total of 480 samples from five registered active poultry abattoirs in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of North West Province, South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of spp. targeting the gene while antibiotic sensitivity was determined using disk diffusion inhibition test.

RESULTS

After isolation, a total of 26 samples were confirmed to be harboring by PCR and sequencing. was found to be the only isolate detected in all the fecal samples tested. The study further demonstrated that infections were highest in the summer season (3%) followed by autumn and winter at 1%, while there were none detected in the spring. The isolated -positive samples on disk diffusion inhibition test displayed resistance to nalidixic acid, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin at 98%, 80%, 83%, and 21%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

isolated in this study is known to cause disease in humans, and thus its occurrence requires application of "One Health" strategy to reduce the spread of this zoonotic pathogen in South Africa.