STUDY OF DIAGNOSIS, ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AND IN-VITRO ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OFSALMONELLA ISOLATED FROM OSTRICH (STRUTHIO CAMELUS)

Abstract

The ostrich meat is considered healthy as it contains low cholesterol and fat levels. Foodborne diseases caused by the bacterium Salmonellaare a significant public health concern. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence, the risk factors involved, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella isolates recovered from captive ostrich feces in the district of Lahore, Pakistan. There is not a single research on this issue in Pakistan up to date in ostrich. A total of 100 ostrich fecal samples were collected- and specifically cultured on Salmonella Shigella agar. The antimicrobial susceptibility was checked for different antibiotics throughthe Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The 21% fecal samples were found positive for Salmonella. The disease was found to besignificantly(p<0.05) associated with risk factors; water type(p=0.027), bird’s capacity(p=0.042), cage hygiene(p=0.024), age of bird(p=0.041) andother bird species around (p=0.031) while enclosure size and diet were found non-significant. The bacterium was found highly susceptible to Amoxicillin followed by Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Cefotaxime, andEnrofloxacin respectively.Further Salmonella species-level diagnostic studies along with susceptibility checks of more therapeutic agents are suggested to future researchers.