Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp. in Faecal Samples of Wild Birds

Abstract

Background: Microbial resistance to antibiotics is a worldwide problem in human and veterinary medicine. The principal risk factor for an increase in this situation is the extensive use of antibiotics leading to the dissemination of resistant bacteria and resistance genes. Bacteria from Wild birds are important with regard to antibiotic resistance due to diverse ecology and as reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacterial genes and potential spreaders. Methods: In the present study, a total of total 75 faecal swabs from captive and free ranging wild birds were obtained for isolation and identification of E. coli and Staphylococcus sp. They were detected for presence of antimicrobial resistant drugs, six each, by using standard kirby- beaur disc diffusion test. Result: Isolation rate of E coli and Staphylococcus sp. was 77% each respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile revealed resistance in E. coli was 25% and in Staphylococcus sp. 10%. Most resistant antimicrobial in E. coli and Staphylococcus sp. was Cotrimoxazole (22%) and Clindamycin (8.6%) respectively. Presence of resistance in wild birds’ species is an alarming situation as these are capable to transmitting resistant gene either vertically or horizontally. Regulating the usage of Antimicrobials in livestock and humans is the need of the hour.