Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of escherichia coli isolates from livestock and predisposing factors to antimicrobial resistance in Isingiro and Kamuli Districts, Uganda

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge to human and animal population. Increase in livestock population coupled with intensive husbandry practices has greatly resulted into increased utilization of antimicrobial products in the management of livestock diseases. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between August and November 2022 in 183 and 87 randomly selected livestock keeping households in Kamuli and Isingiro Districts respectively; to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli isolates from livestock. Fresh fecal samples collected from rectum of each cattle, goats, and cloacal swab from chicken were placed in Stuart Transport medium and taken to College of Veterinary medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity public health laboratory for processing. Escherichia coli culture and isolation was done using chromocult selective media. This was followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. A total of fecal samples was collected. However, 683 fecal samples were collected from which 572 E. coli isolates were obtained. These were 191 (33.1%) from cattle, 200 (35.0%) from goats and 181 (31.6%) from chicken. Only samples from which E. coli was isolated were subjected to AST. The study revealed that E. coli isolates exhibited variation in susceptibility with highest susceptibility 97.5% to kanamycin, and resistance 79.8% to tetracycline. Correct farmers’ knowledge of AMR, human sharing water sources with livestock and open field disposal of animal wastes and use of trained veterinarians were significant predictors of AMR. Evidence of the high prevalence of AMR documented here provides a baseline for the need of further surveillance and call for urgent implementation of mitigation strategies to combat this public health challenge in line with the Uganda AMR National action plan.