Abstract
Live bird markets (LBM) remain a critical link from farm to fork in the poultry value chain, which oftentimes promotes indiscriminate antimicrobial use (AMU) and resistance (AMR). In this study, we assessed biosecurity practices, AMU, and associated these with multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli in LBMs in Abeokuta, Ogun State. A cross-sectional survey among live bird sellers (LBS) in eight LBMs was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Also, cloacal samples (n = 200) were randomly collected and pooled for bacteriological detection of MDR E. coli in live chickens of consenting LBS. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials belonging to 6 different classes was determined using the disk diffusion method. Biosecurity level and AMU were generally low. LBS less than 46 years were 6.8- fold more likely to fall within the poor biosecurity level (Crudes odds ratio = 6.8; 95% CI; 1.20–38.56; p = 0.03) than others. An informal or primary school education increased the odds of having a poor practice of AMU by 15.1 folds (Crudes odds ratio = 15.1; 95% CI; 2.73–84.18; p = 0.002) than those with secondary or tertiary. The prevalence of E. coli and MDR E. coli at the LBM level were 80% and 56.3%, respectively. Extremely high resistance rates were observed for ceftazidime (96.9%) and imipenem (90.6%). The odds of MDR E. coli increased eight-fold in poultry kept by LBS who use AMs as prophylaxis. This current data could be useful for the development of targeted behavioral risk communication and mitigation strategies for AMR to impede the potential horizontal transfer of AMR genes to humans through animal-sourced food.
Highlights
In the Nigerian’ poultry value chain, live bird markets (LBMs) are essential to the farmers for the preferential sales and marketing of poultry and poultry products for human consumption [1]
AMs and MDR pathogens of public health importance. They (LBMs) serve as sources of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) propagation to consumers of Live Birds (LBs), especially since many families in Nigeria depend on poultry products, which are purchased freshly slaughtered or live as a source of protein [29,30]
Wild migratory birds have been implicated in the introduction, maintenance, and global dissemination of different pathogens of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Newcastle disease, and AMR-bacteria such as MDR E. coli [32,33,34,35,36,37,38]
Summary
In the Nigerian’ poultry value chain, live bird markets (LBMs) are essential to the farmers for the preferential sales and marketing of poultry and poultry products for human consumption [1]. Poor biosecurity measures in LBMs in Nigeria could create conditions that promote the spread of diseases and resistant bacterial strains [4,6]. One such common bacterial pathogen is Escherichia coli [7]. The LBS shared their perceptions on antimicrobial use, resistance, and challenges experienced as live bird vendors. When asked about their perceptions on the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, one of the LBS responded “We don’t use antibiotics to that extent because we purchase matured chickens, which are sold or slaughtered within a few weeks. The respondents were unaware of the associated AMR implication in humans, but know it was critical not to slaughter chickens placed on antimicrobial treatment
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