Metagenomic Characterization of Poultry Cloacal and Oropharyngeal Swabs in Kenya Reveals Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

We report that Proteobacteria, Chlamydiae, and Firmicutes are the most dominant phyla present in both cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs of the six poultry species studied, indicating the colonization of the poultry gut by many pathogenic bacteria. Using KEGG and COG databases, some pathways related to metabolism, genetic information, and cellular processing were detected. We also report the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes that confer resistance to β-lactamases, aminoglycosides, and tetracycline in most of the poultry analyzed, raising concern about the dangers associated with continuous and inappropriate use of these antibiotics in poultry production. The antimicrobial resistance gene data generated in this study provides a valuable indicator of the use of antimicrobials in poultry in Kenya. The information generated is essential for managing bacterial diseases, especially in backyard poultry raised under scavenging conditions.PMID:38374958 | PMC:PMC10876313 | DOI:10.1155/2024/8054338

Source: International Journal of Microbiology - February 20, 2024 Category: Microbiology Authors: Philip M Panyako Sheila C Ommeh Stephen N Kuria Jacqueline K Lichoti Johns Musina Venugopal Nair Vish Nene Muhammad Munir Samuel O Oyola Source Type: research