Isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and prevalence of Gallibacterium anatis in local breed of female Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) in Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed to isolate Gallibacterium anatis, study its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and investigate the prevalent rate of bacterium in local breed of female Muscovy ducks in Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of 250 samples were collected and analyzed for the study, out of which 83 were positive for G. anatis with an overall prevalent rate of 33.20%. The bacterium was found to be more prevalent amongst local breed of female Muscovy ducks sampled from households 48 (19.20%) compared to those from live birds market 35 (14.0%). G. anatis isolates were more frequently cultivated from samples of the tracheal swabs than from cloacal swabs and part of ovary samples. The prevalence of the bacterium was higher in the rainy season 68 (27.20%) than in the dry season 15 (6.0%). Isolates of G. anatis showed positive reactions to test with catalase, oxidase, phosphatase, sucrose and sorbitol but shows negative reactions to indole, urease, coagulase and maltose. The prevalence of biovars haemolytic Gallibacterium anatis biovar and non-haemolytic Gallibacterium anatis biovar were 8.43% and 91.57% respectively. The in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility pattern revealed that isolates were highly susceptible to Cefotaxime, moderately susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline and Florfenicol. In conclusion, G. anatis is prevalent in local breed of female Muscovy ducks in the study area. Therefore, adequate biosecurity measures should be put in place in all level of poultry production system to control the spread of the organism. The misuse of antibiotic by village poultry farmers should be discouraged to avoid drug resistance.