BACKGROUND AND AIM

infections in sheep may be asymptomatic or cause enteritis, ileitis, infertility, and abortion. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of spp. in farming sheep and to detect risk factors, molecular patterns, and antimicrobial susceptibility status of these pathogens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred and eight fecal samples were collected from 12 flocks in the Mymensingh and Sherpur districts. Samples were tested by both basic (culture and biochemical tests) and molecular (initially 16S rRNA and later gene-based polymerase chain reaction). Furthermore, the antimicrobial susceptibility status of was confirmed using disk diffusion. Flock- and animal-level data were captured using semi-structured interviews with farm owners under bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to confirm the risk factors for -positive status.

RESULTS

The prevalence of staining at the animal and flock levels was 8.82% (36/408) and 66.70% (8/12), respectively. The age of sheep was identified as an important risk factor. Up to 1 year of age, sheep were 3.78 times more likely to be infected with (95% confidence interval: 1.0736-13.3146, p = 0.038). Of the 36 isolates of , all were found to be fully susceptible (100%) to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. In this study, three antimicrobial agents, oxytetracycline, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone, were fully resistant (100%). The majority of isolates were resistant to a combination of 4-6 antimicrobial agents.

CONCLUSION

The present study highlights the predominant maintenance of zoonotic species in sheep, and their burden on human health is enormous. Therefore, environmental, animal, and human health needs to be focused under a One Health lens to mitigate the occurrence of in farm settings and to prevent further introduction to animals and humans.