Antibiotic Resistant Campylobacter spp Isolated from Live Broilers at an Abattoir in Lusaka, Zambia

Antibiotic resistant Campylobacter spp causing campylobacteriosis continue to cause challenges in treatment of the infection. Poultry remains the main source of the foodborne disease. This study was undertaken to isolate and identify antibiotic resistant Campylobacter spp. A total of 160 cloacal swabs were taken from broilers at a poultry abattoir in Lusaka. The samples were analyzed using standard bacteriological test. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guideline and three antibiotics were used ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and erythromycin. Results indicated that Campylobacter spp was isolated from 18.75% of the sample population, furthermore the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline and susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The results highlight the growing concern of poultry being a source of multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria.