Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda

<i>Enterococcus</i> spp. are commensal bacteria with increasing clinical relevance due to their role in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This was a cross-sectional study conducted on broiler chickens in the Soroti and Wakiso districts. It assessed the prevalence, species distribution, AMR profiles, a...

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Main Authors: Ochieng, Linnet, Ayebare, Dreck, Ndoboli, Dickson, Mbatidde, Irene, Tenhagen, B.-A., Roesel, Kristina, Wampande, E., Moodley, Arshnee
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176178
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author Ochieng, Linnet
Ayebare, Dreck
Ndoboli, Dickson
Mbatidde, Irene
Tenhagen, B.-A.
Roesel, Kristina
Wampande, E.
Moodley, Arshnee
author_browse Ayebare, Dreck
Mbatidde, Irene
Moodley, Arshnee
Ndoboli, Dickson
Ochieng, Linnet
Roesel, Kristina
Tenhagen, B.-A.
Wampande, E.
author_facet Ochieng, Linnet
Ayebare, Dreck
Ndoboli, Dickson
Mbatidde, Irene
Tenhagen, B.-A.
Roesel, Kristina
Wampande, E.
Moodley, Arshnee
author_sort Ochieng, Linnet
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. are commensal bacteria with increasing clinical relevance due to their role in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This was a cross-sectional study conducted on broiler chickens in the Soroti and Wakiso districts. It assessed the prevalence, species distribution, AMR profiles, and the presence of mutations in the <i>gyrA</i> gene in antibiotic-resistant enterococci spp. A total of 402 environmental samples were collected, and 75% (303/402) tested positive for <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. The most frequently isolated species were <i>E. faecalis</i> (33.1%), followed by <i>E. faecium</i> (21.4%) and <i>E. lactis</i> (13.4%). Phenotypic resistance was observed to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (21.2%), fluoroquinolone (11.9%), tigecycline (11.8%), ampicillin (4.1%), glycopeptides (2.3%), gentamicin (2.0%), and linezolid (1.0%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones, tigecycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was significantly associated with the semi-intensive system (Fisher’s exact p < 0.001). Only 3.3% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. Eleven acquired resistance genes were detected, with <i>tetL</i> and <i>tetM</i> showing significant distribution differences between systems. Mutations in <i>gyrA</i> associated with fluoroquinolone resistance were also identified. While overall AMR levels were low, the detection of resistance to critically important antibiotics not approved for use in poultry highlights potential public health risks. These findings underscore the importance of routine AMR surveillance in poultry. It also highlights the need for deeper investigation into its role in AMR transmission and strategic interventions to limit the development of resistance in food animal production.
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spelling CGSpace1761782025-10-26T12:56:54Z Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda Ochieng, Linnet Ayebare, Dreck Ndoboli, Dickson Mbatidde, Irene Tenhagen, B.-A. Roesel, Kristina Wampande, E. Moodley, Arshnee antimicrobial resistance poultry <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. are commensal bacteria with increasing clinical relevance due to their role in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This was a cross-sectional study conducted on broiler chickens in the Soroti and Wakiso districts. It assessed the prevalence, species distribution, AMR profiles, and the presence of mutations in the <i>gyrA</i> gene in antibiotic-resistant enterococci spp. A total of 402 environmental samples were collected, and 75% (303/402) tested positive for <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. The most frequently isolated species were <i>E. faecalis</i> (33.1%), followed by <i>E. faecium</i> (21.4%) and <i>E. lactis</i> (13.4%). Phenotypic resistance was observed to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (21.2%), fluoroquinolone (11.9%), tigecycline (11.8%), ampicillin (4.1%), glycopeptides (2.3%), gentamicin (2.0%), and linezolid (1.0%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones, tigecycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was significantly associated with the semi-intensive system (Fisher’s exact p < 0.001). Only 3.3% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. Eleven acquired resistance genes were detected, with <i>tetL</i> and <i>tetM</i> showing significant distribution differences between systems. Mutations in <i>gyrA</i> associated with fluoroquinolone resistance were also identified. While overall AMR levels were low, the detection of resistance to critically important antibiotics not approved for use in poultry highlights potential public health risks. These findings underscore the importance of routine AMR surveillance in poultry. It also highlights the need for deeper investigation into its role in AMR transmission and strategic interventions to limit the development of resistance in food animal production. 2025-09 2025-08-22T11:35:14Z 2025-08-22T11:35:14Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176178 en Open Access Elsevier Ochieng, L., Ayebare, D., Ndoboli, D., Mbatidde, I., Tenhagen, B.-A., Roesel, K., Wampande, E. and Moodley, A. 2025. Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda. The Microbe 8: 100515.
spellingShingle antimicrobial resistance
poultry
Ochieng, Linnet
Ayebare, Dreck
Ndoboli, Dickson
Mbatidde, Irene
Tenhagen, B.-A.
Roesel, Kristina
Wampande, E.
Moodley, Arshnee
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
title Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
title_full Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
title_fullStr Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
title_short Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
title_sort prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi intensive and free range poultry farms in peri urban wakiso and rural soroti uganda
topic antimicrobial resistance
poultry
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176178
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