Prevalence Of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Pullorum Isolated From Poultry Farms In The Kohat District

Abstract

Salmonella pullorum is a pathogenic bacterium responsible for pullorum disease and septicemia in poultry, posing a significant threat to both animal and human health through foodborne transmission. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, antibiotic-resistance patterns, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of S. pullorum isolated from poultry in Kohat District. A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from various poultry shops and cultured on Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar, followed by Gram staining, biochemical, and molecular identification (16S rRNA). Twenty isolates were confirmed as S. pullorum and antibiotic susceptibility testing against imipenem, chloramphenicol, azithromycin, levofloxacin, penicillin, and clindamycin, revealing varying levels of resistance. Zones of inhibition were observed with imipenem, chloramphenicol (12 mm), azithromycin (8 mm), and levofloxacin (5 mm), while penicillin and clindamycin showed no inhibitory effect. The findings highlight the presence of multidrug-resistant S. pullorum in poultry, underscoring the need for expanded surveillance, molecular characterization, and alternative therapeutic strategies.

Graphical abstract