Antibiotic Resistance Development in Animal Production: A Cross-Sectional Study

In recent years, an increase in the development of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens especially foodborne zoonotic bacteria has been observed. As a result, crude mortality rates are increasing due to those resistant bacteria in both human and animal populations, particularly in developing countries like Tanzania where the risk of infection is high due to poor biosecurity measures, close animal-human interactions, and extensive use of antimicrobials for animal productions. One of those zoonotic bacterial pathogens, which commonly contaminates food, is Salmonella.

A cross-sectional study was carried out on samples collected from diarrheic sheep, to assess the level of antibiotic resistance of Salmonella. From 165 fecal samples, 80 of which were tested positive for Salmonella. The antibiotic resistance level of Salmonella isolates was conducted by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method using ten commonly used antibiotics in the study area.

Out of 80 Salmonella positive samples, all (100%) of them were resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin while sixty-eight (85%), 68 (85%), and 60 (75%) isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and kanamycin, respectively. Thirty (37.5%) Salmonella isolates were resistant to both trimethoprim and tetracycline and 25% of the isolates were resistant to both doxycycline and chloramphenicol while 12.5% of the isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid.

This study revealed that the Salmonella isolates of diarrheic sheep developed a wide range of resistance to different antibiotics. Further studies and integrative approaches in a one health framework among animal-human and environmental health professionals are recommended for the mitigation of health risks arising from antibiotic-resistant zoonotic pathogens like Salmonella.