Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella enterica isolated from broiler chicks

Rana Hagras, Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Noura F. Mostafa, Gastro-Enterology Surgery Center (GEC), Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Asmaa Sadat, Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Amal Awad, Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, EgyptFollow

Document Type

Original Article

Keywords

Salmonella; broilers; serotyping; invA; Antimicrobial susceptibility

Abstract

Objective: Salmonella is frequently implicated in several harmful processes that affect both humans and animals, including poultry. This study aimed to isolate and identify Salmonella serovars from clinically diseased broiler chicks collected from poultry farms as well as evaluate the susceptibility of the isolates to the antimicrobial agents frequently used in poultry farms. Design: Two- hundred broiler chicks’ samples were collected from broiler farms located in Dakahlia province and subjected to bacteriological examination for the isolation of salmonellae. Salmonella isolates were then subjected to serological identification to detect Salmonella serovars circulating in broiler farms. In addition, the isolated strains were tested for their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Results: Eighteen Salmonella isolates were detected after confirmation of the recovered strains biochemically and by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the invA gene. Serologically, five serotypes were detected in the recovered strains: Salmonella Kentucky (n=8), Salmonella Typhimurium (n=6), Salmonella Derby (n=1), Salmonella Infantis (n=2) and Salmonella enteritidis (n=1). Interestingly, Salmonella isolates displayed a very high resistance to most antimicrobials used. Salmonella isolates showed complete resistance to cefotaxime, kanamycin, amikacin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, penicillin G, oxacillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic, as well as nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and fosfomycin. While high sensitivity was displayed for cefoxitin, all isolates displayed multi-drug resistance to 11 or more antimicrobial agents. Conclusion and clinical relevance: In conclusion, Salmonella Kentucky and Salmonella Typhimurium were the predominant Salmonella serovars circulated in the selected farms. Furthermore, the higher antimicrobial resistance displayed by the recovered isolates necessitate a strict strategies to be taken against the use of antimicrobials in poultry farms and the importance to find a new substitutes to be used as antibiotics alternatives in poultry farms.

How to Cite This Article

Hagras, Rana; Mostafa, Noura F.; Sadat, Asmaa; and Awad, Amal (2024) "Characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella enterica isolated from broiler chicks," Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal: Vol. 25: Iss. 4, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35943/2682-2512.1243