ANTIBIOBIOTIC SENSITIVITY PROFILING OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND SALMONELLA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM PIGEON: A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

Abstract

This study was undertaken to isolate, identify and antibiotic profiling of zoonotic bacteria harbors in pigeon, which are raised in farms and household in Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka and National Institute of Biotechnology, Savar. Total bacterial load and total coliform load was determined from oral swab (n = 20) and cloacal swabs (n = 20) of pigeons. Samples were collected aseptically and inoculated onto various culture media for isolation of zoonotic bacteria. Identification of bacteria from positive samples were performed by cultural characterist ics, Gram’s staining, biochemical tests and molecular identification to some extent. Hundred percent prevalence with microorganism was found from all the samples. The prevalence of E.coli and Salmonella spp. in oral swab samples was (50%) and (30%) and in cloacal swab samples it was (55%) and (25%) respectively. The overall prevalence of E.coli and Salmonella spp. in pigeons was (52.50%) and (27.5%). Antibiotic sensitivity profiling of the isolated E.coli & Salmonella spp. was performed by the disc diffusion method against 9 randomly used antibiotics. The highest rate of sensitivity against E.coli was found with levofloxacin (67%) followed by azithromycin (63%), ciprofloxacin (62%) and gentamicin (48%). The highest rate of resistance was recorded to ampicillin (71%) followed by amoxicillin (62%), erythromycin (62%), tetracycline (52%). The highest rate of antibiotic sensitivity against Salmonella spp. was found with ciprofloxacin (82%) and levofloxacin, gentamicin and ampicillin showed the same result (55%). The highest rate of resistance was recorded to tetracycline (100%) followed by nalidixic acid (82%) and erythromycin (46%), amoxicillin (36%). Data from this study suggest that pigeons carry multi-drug resistant E.coli and Salmonella spp. which can be transferred to humans through direct contact or the food chain and can cause a potential public health hazard.