BACTERIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF UNUSED LITTERS OF POULTRIES IN UMUAHIA

Bacteriological assessment of and associated antibacterial profile of poultries kept under different unused litter. Twenty four (24) unused litters) collected in Mc Cartney bottles were gently shook. stirred with sterile glass rod until the droppings mixed thoroughly and aliquot (0.1ml) was pure plated in nutrient agar and selective and differential media. The plates were inverted and incubated aerobically at 37?C for 24hrs after which the plates were examined for growth. The bacteria colonies that develop on all media plates were sub-cultured by streaking on a freshly prepared nutrient agar plates until pure colonies were obtained. Isolates obtained were characterized and identified on the basis of their microscopic and sugar fermentation characteristics, Gram staining, biochemical tests and morphological characteristics of the colonies through macroscopic features were also carried out. The bacterial isolates from feacal droppings were Klebsiella spp., Escherichia. coli, Streptococcuss spp., Citrobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and Aerobacter spp., while only Klebsiella spp., E. coli, Citrobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. were isolated from unused litters. The bacterial isolates have multidrug resistance (MDR) and showed high resistance to Ampicillin, Ceftriaxone, Augmentin, Tetracycline and Sulfamethoxasole. It was concluded from this study that the poultry droppings harboured pathogenic bacteria some of which were multiple antibiotics resistant which may be linked with indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents, use of leftover antibiotics from a family member and improper discontinuation of antibiotics. There should be regulation on the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention in poultry birds. Feed and water troughs should be cleaned daily and fresh feed and water should be supplied.