Abstract:
The use of maggots, obtained from chicken droppings as alternative fish meal might serve as a
reservoir and vehicle for the widespread of single and multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria
(MARB). It is known that worldwide, more than 60% of all antibiotics that are produced find
their use in animal production for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes and this has
been linked with the development and spread of resistant bacteria. This study aimed at
investigating antibiotic resistant bacteria and their resistant genes in maggots obtained from
chicken droppings. Samples of fresh poultry droppings were obtained from three commercial
poultry farms, in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Samples were plated on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar
that has been incorporated with antibiotics. Isolated antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) were
presumptively identified by cultural microbiological method. Identities of the isolates were
authenticated using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs)
and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the genome of ARB were detected by standard
molecular tools (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Pathogens isolated include Escherichia coli,
Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica, Providencia stuartii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Staphylococcus aureus, Providencia rettgeri, Alcaligenes faecalis, Paelnalcaligenes hominis and
Micrococcus sp. A total of 23 ARGs and 2 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were investigated.
Results showed that 17 ARGs were widely distributed among the 19 MARB isolates.
Tetracycline resistant gene was widely distributed among the MARB with prevalence of 62%
while macrolides and beta lactam resistance gene had 17% and 13% respectively. At least 6
MARB isolates showed the presence of two or more class 1 integron while 5 isolates was
detected to carry two or more class 2 integron among the 19 MARB isolates. The results
highlight a much higher risk of ARGs spreading through maggots obtained from chicken
droppings to humans and environmental microbiota.
