Phenotypic characterization and antibiotic resistance and susceptibility in indigenous and other breeds of chickens in Sierra Leone

This study phenotypically characterized collected indigenous breeds of chickens in regional Sierra Leone and analyzed the antibiotic resistance patterns of E. coli isolates in fecal swabs of both indigenous and other exotic breeds of chicken. It also provides the basis for selection of locally adapted birds for genetic improvement programmers. One hundred and fifty (150) locally adapted chickens were characterized and 28 samples of both indigenous and improved breeds of chickens were swabbed. Five distinct ecotype breeds were identified with no significant differences (P>0.05) among them in terms of morphological appearance. For qualitative traits, orange and yellow eye colors were the most common types found: brown and yellow beak colors are the predominant types in the Normal and Frizzle, with single comb type commonly observed in all breeds, and the Kebu breed showed 100% grey shanks. The body parameters also did not depict any significant differences (P>0.05). However, the Kebu showed better character in terms of: body weight, body length, shank, and neck length. The beak length, comb height and length and wattle height are close (0.95-1.75) for all breeds except for straw-feathered breeds with much lesser values (0.35-1.220). Out of the twelve antibiotics, tested on E. coli isolates from all breeds, resistance was shown against only three; Sulphathiazole (96.2%), Ampicillin (34.6%), and Chloramphenicol (3.8%). E. coli isolates from the Kebu breed exhibited resistance to all the antibiotics used, while, E. coli isolates from all the other breeds sampled showed resistance to Sulphathiazole but none to Chloramphenicol. All isolates were 100% susceptible to cefepime, and 94.2% susceptible to cephalosporin. No Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) was seen among the E. coli isolates. In future, the evaluation of the production potential of local breeds of chicken in terms of clutch size and meat production would be of vital importance.