Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, Uganda
Enterococcus 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...
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2025-09-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950194625002833 |
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| author | Linnet Ochieng Dreck Ayebare Dickson Ndoboli Irene Mbatidde Bernd-Alois Tenhagen Kristina Roesel Eddie Wampande Arshnee Moodley |
| author_facet | Linnet Ochieng Dreck Ayebare Dickson Ndoboli Irene Mbatidde Bernd-Alois Tenhagen Kristina Roesel Eddie Wampande Arshnee Moodley |
| author_sort | Linnet Ochieng |
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| description | Enterococcus 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 gyrA gene in antibiotic-resistant Enterococci spp. A total of 402 environmental samples were collected, and 75 % (303/402) tested positive for Enterococcus spp. The most frequently isolated species were E. faecalis (33.1 %), followed by E. faecium (21.4 %) and E. lactis (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 tetL and tetM showing significant distribution differences between systems. Mutations in gyrA 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. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2950-1946 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | The Microbe |
| spelling | doaj-art-3c8c3cc81edf4dbb9052fcfaba37f50c2025-08-25T04:14:59ZengElsevierThe Microbe2950-19462025-09-01810051510.1016/j.microb.2025.100515Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in enterococci isolated from semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in peri-urban Wakiso and rural Soroti, UgandaLinnet Ochieng0Dreck Ayebare1Dickson Ndoboli2Irene Mbatidde3Bernd-Alois Tenhagen4Kristina Roesel5Eddie Wampande6Arshnee Moodley7International Livestock Research Institute, P.O Box 30790, Nairobi 00100, KenyaInternational Livestock Research Institute, P.O Box 24384, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C 1870, DenmarkInternational Livestock Research Institute, P.O Box 24384, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C 1870, DenmarkInternational Livestock Research Institute, P.O Box 24384, Kampala, Uganda; National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 295, Entebbe, Uganda; German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfr Weg 1, Berlin 12277, Germany; Dahlem Research School of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie University, Hittorsfstr.16, Berlin 14195, GermanyGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfr Weg 1, Berlin 12277, GermanyInternational Livestock Research Institute, P.O Box 30790, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 17, Stuttgart 70593, GermanyDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062 256, Kampala, UgandaInternational Livestock Research Institute, P.O Box 30790, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C 1870, Denmark; Correspondence to: University of Copenhagen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Stigbøjlen 4, Frederiksberg C, 1870, Denmark.Enterococcus 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 gyrA gene in antibiotic-resistant Enterococci spp. A total of 402 environmental samples were collected, and 75 % (303/402) tested positive for Enterococcus spp. The most frequently isolated species were E. faecalis (33.1 %), followed by E. faecium (21.4 %) and E. lactis (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 tetL and tetM showing significant distribution differences between systems. Mutations in gyrA 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950194625002833Enteric bacteriaDrug resistanceOne healthAntibiotic resistance genesLivestockAvian |
| spellingShingle | Linnet Ochieng Dreck Ayebare Dickson Ndoboli Irene Mbatidde Bernd-Alois Tenhagen Kristina Roesel Eddie Wampande Arshnee Moodley 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 Enteric bacteria Drug resistance One health Antibiotic resistance genes Livestock Avian |
| 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 | Enteric bacteria Drug resistance One health Antibiotic resistance genes Livestock Avian |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950194625002833 |
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