Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Potential Bacterial Pathogens at Some Selected Abattoirs in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Bacteriological evaluation of four different abattoirs in Port Harcourt was carried out to determine the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms at these sites and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Samples were collected by swabbing the surfaces of tables used in displaying meat at these abattoirs. The spread plate method was used for the inoculation and microbial counts, while the streak plate method was used for the isolation of pure culture from the mixed culture. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was done using the disc diffusion method. Nine (9) different species of bacteria were isolated from the eighty (80) samples collected and these include Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella enteritidis. Out of three hundred and thirty sixty (336) isolates, E.coli accounted for 72 (21.43%), Staphylococcus aureus 51 (15.18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 45 (13.40%) and Salmonella enteritidis19 (5.65%) respectively. The mean total microbial count was 1.23 x 10⁷ cfu/ml. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, E.coli was susceptible to all the antibiotics used while Shigella spp showed the highest level of resistance. Among the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus spp was susceptible to all the antibiotics used, while Bacillus spp showed the least susceptibility. In view of the level of pathogenic organisms isolated from the abattoirs it is likely that meat displayed on these contaminated tables may also be contaminated. It is therefore recommended that hygiene and sanitary conditions be improved and meat properly cooked to eliminate harmful bacteria that are known to cause food poisoning. Prudent use of antibiotics in animal husbandry is also advised to help control the emergence of antibiotic resistance.