Monitoring for the circulation of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella in poultry and wild birds in Ukraine in 2017

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the circulation of antibiotic resistant Salmonella among poultry and wild birds in Ukraine to build a basis for predicting potential epizootics and developing preventive measures. Methods & Materials: Isolation pathogens, as well as determination of the antibiotic resistance were conducted in 11 oblasts of Ukraine during 2017. In total, 1,469 samples collected from poultry, exotic, wild birds were studied using dense differential-diagnostic media, as well as nonselective and selective concentrated liquid culture media. Results: We found 150 isolates belonging to 8 families, including Enerobacteriaceae (69.05%), in poultry, exotic domestic birds; 5 of them (3.3%) were classified as Salmonella spp. Other pathogens included: Proteus spp. – 19.30%; E.coli – 7.94%; E.vulneris – 3.97%; Escherichia hermanii – 0.79%; Morganella spp. – 3.97%; Citrobacter diversus – 5.56%; Citrobacter freundii – 6.35%; Enterobacter spp. – 10.32%; Providencia spp. – 3.17%; Edwardsiella spp. – 0.79%; Serratia spp – 2.38%; Kluyvera ascorbata – 0.79%. Fifty-eight cultures, including species of Enerobacteriaceae (62.0%), were isolated from wild birds, with only one culture referred to the Salmonella spp (1.72%). The following bacteria were isolated from wild birds: Enterobacter spp. – 21.0%; Citrobacter spp.– 18.5%; Proteus spp.– 17.5%; Escherichia spp.– 12.5%; Serratia spp.– 3.5%; Morganella spp.– 3.0%; and Edwardsiella spp.– 2.0%. Five Salmonella isolates from poultry were found to be resistant to penicillines, tetracyclines, macrolides; in addition, two isolates to be also resistant to fluorophilonium, polymyxins. The culture isolated from a wild bird was resistant to macrolides, benzylpenicillin, tetracyclines. All six isolates from poultry and wild bird were sensitive to carbapenems. Conclusion: We confirmed persistence of Salmonella among poultry in spite of extensive anti-salmonella program in Ukraine. Resistance to commonly used antibiotics indicates the need for control of their use in poultry. Isolation of Salmonella from wild birds is an evidence of their role as potential reservoirs; there are need to study mechanism of antibiotic resistance and conduct risk assessment of multidrug resistance in nature.