ABSTRACT

This study was to determine the antibiotics resistance profile of E. coli isolated from farm animal in Umuahia metropolis. A total of Forty (40) samples were analyzed in the study of which ten (10) swab samples each were collected from Goats, Sheep, Pigs and Rabbits. These samples were cultured on Blood and MacConkey agar plates using streak plate technique and incubated at 37oC for 24hrs. Escherichia coli strains were identified by standard techniques on the basis of their colonial morphology, Gram staining reaction, motility and biochemical characteristics. Among the forty (40) samples analysed, pig had the highest number positive for E. coli with high percentage occurrence 8(42.1%). The antibiotic susceptibility testing, using disc diffusion techniques reveals patterns with high resistant rates of the isolates to Nalidixic acid, Amoxicillin, Septrin and Ampicilin. The highest sensitivity rates on E. coli were recorded with Ciprofloxacin (94.7%), Streptomycin (78.9%), Oflaxacin (89.5%), and gentamicin (84.2%). The results from this study demonstrated the high antimicrobial resistance amongst E. coli to the commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs which substantiates the alarming occurrence and ongoing spread of various multi resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains in the human and animal population. There is need for continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance trends particularly among organisms resident in the gastrointestinal tract of farm-animals which are implicated in infectious diseases in human.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page     i

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables vii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Aim and Objectives 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 4

2.1 Modes of Action of Antibacterial Agents 4

2.1.1 Inhibition of Cell-Wall Synthesis 5

2.1.2 Inhibition of Protein Synthesis 6

2.1.3 Injury to the Plasma Membrane 7

2.1.4 Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis 7

2.1.5 Inhibition of Essential Metabolites 8

2.2 Antibiotics Resistance Mechanisms 8

2.2.1 Resistance Based on Altered Receptors for a Drug 9

2.2.2 Decreased Entry of Antibiotics 10

2.2.3 Synthesis of Resistance or Alternative Pathway 10

2.3 Resistance to B-Lactam Antibiotics 11

2.3.1 Tetracycline Resistance 11

2.3.2 Chloramphenicol Resistance 13

2.4 Factors Contributing to the Emergence of Resistance 13

2.5 Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance 14

2.5.1 Infection Control 14

2.5.2 Rational Use of Antibiotics 15

2.6 Biology and Pathogenecity of E. coli 16

2.6.1 Escherichia coli 16

2.6.1.1 Diseases Caused by Escherichia coli O157: H7 17

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 18

3.1 Study Location 18

3.2 Sample Collection 18

3.3 Sample Processing  18

3.4 Isolation and Identification of E. coli Isolates 18

3.4.1 Colonial Morphology 18

3.4.2 Gram Staining 19

3.4.3 Motility Test 19

3.5 Biochemical Tests 19

3.5.1 Catalase Test 19

3.5.2 Methyl Red Test 20

3.5.3 Voges-Proskauer Test  20

3.5.4 Indole Test 20

3.5.5 Citrate Utilization Test 20

3.5.6 Urease Test 21

3.5.7 Triple Sugar Iron Agar Test 21

3.6 Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing 21

3.7 Data Analysis 22

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results 23

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation 27

5.1 Discussion 27

5.2 Conclusion 28

5.3 Recommendation 28

References