Multidrug resistance in enteric pathogens from smallholder poultry farms in peri-urban Dhaka: One Health implications

K. B. M. Saiful Islam; Syeeda Shiraj-Um-Mahmuda; Md. Roknuzzaman Khan; Md. Khairul Islam; Md. Akib  Zabed; Afroj Zahan; Syeeda Shiraj-Um-Monira; Faisol Talukdar

doi:10.29244/currbiomed.4.1.14

Authors

K. B. M. Saiful Islam Department of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sher‑e‑Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka‑1207, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4206-4964
Syeeda Shiraj-Um-Mahmuda Directorate General of Health Services, Dhaka‑1212, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4697-6191
Md. Roknuzzaman Khan Department of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sher‑e‑Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka‑1207, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7713-5911
Md. Khairul Islam Department of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sher‑e‑Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka‑1207, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4519-3394
Md. Akib Zabed Department of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sher‑e‑Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka‑1207, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4726-3376
Afroj Zahan Department of Anatomy, Gazi Medical College, Khulna‑9000, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1825-8141
Syeeda Shiraj-Um-Monira Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dhaka‑1216, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1075-1588
Faisol Talukdar Department of Livestock Services, Dhaka‑1215, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6481-8299

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29244/currbiomed.4.1.14

Keywords:

Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., MAR index, antibiotic resistance, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food animal pathogens poses a growing public health threat, particularly in low-resource settings where zoonotic transmission is poorly monitored.

Objective This study investigated the occurrence, spatial distribution, and AMR profiles of enteric pathogens isolated from chickens reared in smallholder commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh.

Methods Cecal samples (n=100) were collected from broiler and layer chickens across ten peri-urban locations within 50 km radius of Dhaka city. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed according to standard protocols. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using disk diffusion against 12 commonly used antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index and prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) were calculated. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and t-tests.

Results A total of 270 bacterial isolates were recovered, predominantly Escherichia coli (55.9%) and Salmonella spp. (16.7%). Resistance was highest to Amoxicillin (93.3%), Streptomycin (52.6%), and Tetracycline (46.3%), while Ceftriaxone showed the lowest resistance (6.7%). Overall, 71.5% of isolates were multidrug-resistant with broiler-derived strains showing significantly higher MDR prevalence (78.8%) and MAR index (0.41 ± 0.11) than layer-derived strains (62.2%, 0.30 ± 0.09; p<0.001). Spatial analysis revealed significant variation in isolate counts and resistance burden across locations, with Narsingdi, Savar, and Araihajar identified as high-risk zones (p<0.05).

Conclusion The high prevalence of MDR enteric pathogens and elevated MAR indices in broiler farms highlight the zoonotic risk posed by poultry feces. These findings emphasize the need for targeted antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance within the One Health framework.