Dr.
Thaddaeus Obaji Ariom
Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Title of the talk: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Poultry Farming: Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance Profile, and Knowledge Gaps among Smallholder Farmers
Abstract
The unrestricted use of antibiotic compounds in food-producing animals has led to the emergence of multi-drug resistance, making control and eradication of Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) difficult. This study aimed to determine the occurrence, knowledge gap, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of MRSA isolated from poultry and poultry farm handlers in Abeokuta metropolis. A total of 240 samples (186 cloacae swabs and 54 ear swabs) were collected from smallholder poultry farms and farm handlers in 36 different smallholder poultry farms. Isolation and characterization of S. aureus were done using microbiological standard techniques. A total of 102(43%) Staph. aureus was isolated. Out of which, 62% are (MRSA). The Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used to perform susceptibility profiling and phenotypic detection of MRSA with standard antibiotics and Cefoxitin discs respectively. The diameter of the inhibition zone was measured and interpreted according to the EUCAST breakpoint for the year 2023. This was then confirmed through the amplification of the mecA gene. Antibiotics susceptibility test showed all the 42 MRSA isolates were resistant to cefoxitin and ceftazidime (100%), 18(43%) of the isolates showed resistance to Ciprofloxacin and gentamycin while 30(71%) and 20(48%) were resistant to tetracycline and vancomycin respectively. Most MRSA isolates recorded a MAR index value of 0.2 to 0.8. Smallholder farmers’ knowledge gap on antibiotic resistance and use, was established using a structured questionnaire. The study showed that most smallholder farmers in the study area were female (71.42%) predominated with an age range of less than 30 years (43%) and 30 to 45 years (41%). Most of the farmers (83%) are not familiar with the concept of antibiotics. The prevalence of MRSA recorded in this study and the poor knowledge of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance shown by the farmers are worrisome. Especially when these isolates are multi-drug resistant and can easily get to humans through direct contact (horizontal transmission), which poses a great risk to human and animal health.
Biography
Dr Ariom, Thaddaeus Obaji is a Research Fellow/Lecturer at the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is currently conducting research, teaching and supervising students in Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. He has a BSc in Applied Microbiology, an MSC and a PhD in Epidemiology from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. He has his postdoctoral studies/Advanced Science Training at FVM, University of Lisbon, Portugal. Dr Ariom is a climate change research scientist focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance and the role of microorganisms in climate change. He has over 15 publications in both local and international journals of high repute.
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