Prevalence, associated factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella species and pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler poultry farms in Wakiso district, Uganda.

Background: The emergence and re- emergence of zoonotic bacterial infections and the upsurge reflected in current trends of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is a major global concern. Salmonella spp and Escherichia coli (E.coli) are the two most important food-borne pathogens of public health interest incriminated in poultry products worldwide hence necessitating constant monitoring of microbial food safety measures. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, associated factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella and E. coli in poultry farms in Wakiso District to provide detailed information of extent of spread to guide plans that influence safer poultry keeping practices in this era. Methods: This study was a cross sectional study that used a total of two hundred sixteen (216) poultry samples from cloacae swabs and fecal swabs collected from broiler poultry farms and cultured on Chromagar TM Salmonella and Sorbitol MacConkey agar for pathogenic E. coli. Biochemical tests, minimum inhibitory concentration, and polymerase chain reaction were utilized. Assessment of the correlations between the resistance patterns of resistant and susceptible isolates was determined using mean, and multiple logistic regression. Results: A total of 40 (18.5%) Salmonella and 120 (55.6%) Pathogenic E. coli was isolated. In this investigation, extended beta lactamase (ESBL) production was detected in 18 isolates Salmonella and 57 pathogenic E. coli. Prevalence of blaTEM gene was expressed in 7/18 (39%) Salmonella isolates and 42/57 (73.8%) Pathogenic E. coli isolates The associated factors that predispose these farms to Salmonella and Pathogenic E. coli identified in this study include: contact of poultry and wild birds (p -value =0.000), movement from one pen to the other by farm-handlers (P-Value = 0.030), use of untreated water ( P-Value =0.005) and food contamination of commercial poultry feeds (P-Value= 0.0021) Conclusion: Salmonella spp and Escherichia coli remain the two most important food-borne pathogens of public health interest incriminated in the poultry field, and it is evident from this study that these bacteria have resistant genes associated with them.