Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from Barn Swallow Droppings in Ishaka Town, Uganda
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science and Education Publishing
Abstract
Considerable concern has been raised over the problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria from humans
and farm animals. However, in spite of this concern, the spread of resistance into wider ecosystems has not received
the desired attention. The transfer of antibiotic resistance to wildlife is an important risk for environmental health.
Detection of resistance to antibiotics in populations of wild animals usually entails examination of isolates of the
common intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli. Bird populations sympatric to areas with human settlements and
areas that have high density of livestock are colonised with antibiotic resistant E. coli strains. Data regarding
occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in African domestic and wild mammals is very limited. There is therefore
a need to carry out studies in other parts of the African continent to find out if sympatric animals represent a possible
reservoir for antibiotic resistant microbes. This study was therefore carried out to analyze faecal samples from barn
swallow (Hirundo rustica) droppings in Ishaka Town, Uganda, for the presence of antibiotic resistant E. coli strains.
Results of the study showed that, out of the one hundred and sixteen (116) fecal samples of Barn Swallow droppings
collected, twenty seven isolates of Escherichia coli were obtained. All the 27 isolates (100%) were resistant to one
or more of the tested antibiotics. Out of the 27 isolates, 20 (74.1%) were multi-drug resistant isolates (resistant to
three or more classes of antimicrobials). Such birds can act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistant microbes if enough
attention is not given to the problem. Further research is recommended to determine the prevalence of antibiotic
resistant Escherichia coli from barn swallows residing in other parts of the country and even on the continent and the
whole world at large.
Description
School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University-Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Keywords
Drug resistance, Wild bird, Escherichia coli, Barn swallow, Reservoirs
Citation
Tonny Okullu, Albert Nyanchoka Onchweri, Conrad Ondieki Miruka, Emmanuel Eilu, Justus B. Abimana, and Maniga Josephat Nyabayo, “Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from Barn Swallow Droppings in Ishaka Town, Uganda.” Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology, vol. 4, no. 2 (2016): 34-38. doi: 10.12691/jaem-4-2-2.