Abstract
The research was aimed at determining the microorganisms that are responsible for the contamination of poultry water in Awka metropolis and to evaluate the susceptibility of these organisms to some antimicrobial agents in the case of infections arising from water given to poultry. Three (3) poultry water samples were collected from three different poultry farms all in Awka metropolis and were microbiologically analyzed using standard methods. The bacterial isolates include Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. Five fungal species were isolated which were identified as Aspergillus sp., Mucor spp., Fusarium spp., Cryptococcus spp., Candida spp. Using the standard disc diffusion method, the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates was determined against antimicrobial agents. The effectiveness of the antimicrobials or the susceptibility of the isolates were defined in percentage as follows: Rocephin (7.7%), Pefloxacin (10.9%), Gentamycin (9.3%), Ciprofloxacin (8.8%), Streptomycin (10.4%), Ampiclox (9.5%), Septrin (11.0%), Zinnacef (10.7%), Erythromycin (11.8%), Amoxacillin (10.0%), Nitrofurantoin(12.0%) (for antibacterial) and Nystatin (37.0%), Fluconazole (27.0%), Ketoconazole (36.0%) (for antifungal). For the antibiotics, Isolate-1 was more susceptible to Erythromycin and Rocephin but resistant to Streptomycin. Isolate-2 was more susceptible to Nitrofurantoin, but resistant to SXT(0.0%), GET(0.0%) and AMC(0.0%),. Isolate-3 was more susceptible to Nitrofurantoin and Erythromycin but least susceptible to GET(10.9%). For the antifungals, Isolate-1 was more susceptible to FLU(51.0%) but least susceptible to NYS(21.5%). Isolate-2 was more susceptible to KET(42.8%) but least susceptible to FLU(23.7%). Isolate 3 was more susceptible to FLU(40.8%) but least susceptible to KET(28.7%). Isolate-4 was more susceptible to NYS(55.6%), resistant to FLU(0.0%) but least susceptible to KET(44.4%). Isolate-5 was more susceptible to NYS(50.5%) but least susceptible to KET(21.0%). Fungal resistance was seen among Fluconazole. Thus, Nitrofurantoin, erythromycin and Nystatin should be the first line of prescription in cases of poultry infections and diseases caused by bacteria and fungi respectively in the poultry houses.