Antibiotic Resistance of Vibrio cholerae from Poultry Sources of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Study was conducted to check the distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of Vibrio cholerae from poultry and poultry environment of Bangladesh. Isolated strains were identified following standard cultural, morphological, biochemical and serological agglutination tests. Selected V. cholerae isolates were subjected to 11 antibiotics using disc diffusion method to test sensitivity. V. cholerae was recovered in 24 (9.6%) samples out of total 250. From each 50 samples of cloacal swab, intestinal fluid, egg surfaces and hand wash of chicken handlers, a total of 8 (16%), 12(24%), 3(6%) and 1(2%) samples, respectively, were detected positive for Vibrio. All of the tested Vibrio strains from poultry sources were found highly sensitive to Gentamicin, Norfloxacin and Neomycin, but were resistant to Penicillin, Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Rephampicin. Strains of V. cholerae in this study also exhibited both resistant and susceptible feature against Cephalexin and Streptomycin. 60% of the V. cholerae isolates were resistant to Cephalexin and Streptomycin. Rest 40% strains showed intermediate resistance to Cephalexin and sensitivity to Streptomycin. Attention must be paid for hygiene in processing and handling of poultry and poultry products, judicious application of antibiotics in treating diseases caused by V. cholerae and reduction in antibiotic use in poultry farming.