Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Methicilin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Cloaca and Stool Samples of Poultry Birds in Selected Farms in Malete, Kwara State

Abstract

The rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in animals, especially poultry, represents a serious public health concern due to the possibility of zoonotic transmission. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance profile and occurrence of S. aureus and MRSA that were isolated from the cloaca and faeces of chickens in a medium sized commercial farm in Malete in Kwara State. A total of 74 cloacal and stool samples were collected from layer and broiler birds across three medium-sized farms. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated and identified using standard microbiological and biochemical tests. Antibacterial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against a panel of ten antibiotics. Methicillin resistance was phenotypically confirmed using cefoxitin (30µg) disk screen. The prevalence of S. aureus was 85.1% (63/74). Of these isolates, 28.6% (18/63) were confirmed as MRSA. The antibiotic susceptibility profile revealed high levels of multidrug resistance. The highest resistance rates were observed against cefuroxime (84.1%), cefotaxime (82.5%), and meropenem (76.2%). In contrast, the lowest resistance was noted against ofloxacin (6.4%) and augmentin (11.1%). Chi-square analysis indicated p < 0.05 between the isolation of S. aureus and resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant S. aureus and MRSA in poultry from the study area. The findings highlight a critical reservoir of antimicrobial resistance and suggest that ofloxacin may be a more effective therapeutic option in this context, though its use should be controlled to prevent emergence of resistance.