PREVALENCE OF DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA AND TOXIC CHEMICALS IN POULTRY DUST

Abstract

Bacteriological investigations were carried out on air-borne and settled dust in poultry confinements. Poultry dusts were also analysed for heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Isolation of air-borne bacteria was by plate exposure, bacteria load in poultry air was carried out using air sampler and bacteria load in settled poultry dust was determined by serial dilution technique. The concentrations of nitrate, sulphate and ammonia in poultry dust was determined by the Brucine , turbidimetry and distillation methods respectively, while atomic absorption technique was used to determine the concentrations of Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, and Pb. Bacterial load in settled dust and air in poultry confinements were found to be7-26 x 107cfu/g and 2-20 x 107cfu/m3 respectively. Isolated bacteria in poultry confinements include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, Clostridium perfringes, Citrobacter freundii, Carnobacterium piscicola, Serratia marscences and Acinetobacter anitratus. Some of these isolated bacteria were resistant to multiple drugs. Sieved poultry dust samples analyzed for their chemical compositions were found to contain the following chemicals in ?g/kg: ammonia 31.23+2.06; nitrate 7.31+0.05; sulphate 5.1+0.07; zinc 5.1+0.07; manganese 16.48+0.76; copper 0.47+0.09; cadmium 0.02+0.01 and lead 0.08+0.02. Inhalation of these drug-resistant bacteria and toxic chemicals could be of grave health consequence. Protective measures that will reduce occupational dust exposure should be in place in poultry farms