Patterns of antimicrobial resistance bacteria from respiratory tract of psittacine pet birds in Thailand

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Purpose: Parrots or psittacine birds are one of the most popular pets. The common problem in birds is respiratory disease, which spread mainly through contact, droplet and aerosol transmission. In particular, opportunistic bacteria normally involve in disease progression and threat of antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, close contact with a sick bird may pose health risk to owner due to spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Thus, the aim of this work was to provide data on the characterization of antimicrobial resistance bacteria from upper respiratory tract of psittacine cases in Thailand. Methods & Materials: The case records for all psittacines visiting the exotic pet clinic, Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Bangkhen from January to October, 2015 were used to assess type and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacteria. Swab technique at choanal or nasal area of bird was used for bacteria collection and culture. Eleven antimicrobial drugs were tested using disk diffusion method, which represented 9 antimicrobial groups. Results: A total of 80/376 psittacine cases (21%) was diagnosed to have respiratory problem. Then, eighty-eight isolates were obtained from 53 respiratory cases consisting of Streptococcus spp. (18 isolates, 20%), Staphylococcus spp. (16 isolates, 18%), Escherichia coli (15 isolates, 17%), Pseudomonas spp. (9 isolates, 10%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7 isolates, 8%), Pasteurella spp. (6 isolates, 7%) and Enterobacter spp. (5 isolates, 6%). The staphylococci presented highly resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (>50% of isolates) meanwhile Pasteurella spp. appeared to show susceptible almost of antimicrobial drugs except clindamycin. However, clindamycin seemed to resist with E. coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pasteurella in all isolates. Patterns of multiple drug resistance (MDR) indicated in this study, which presented in all Pseudomonas isolates, 93% of E. coli isolates, 80% of Enterobacter cloacae isolates, and 57% of Klebsiella isolates. Additionally, two isolates of Pseudomonas were resistant to 8 antimicrobial categories. Conclusion: Bacteria isolated from upper respiratory psittacine cases presented antimicrobial resistant trend and MDR. Respiratory treating in Psittaciformes should concern with susceptibility test and prudent use of antimicrobial usage in practice for therapeutic plan. Furthermore, link between colonized bacteria in a pet bird and owner should not be overlook.