Distribution of Antibiotics Resistant Enteric Bacteria in Abattoir Waste

In Nigeria, adequate abattoir waste management is lacking in all public abattoirs such that large solid wastes and untreated effluents are common sites. Although operations in the abattoirs are of benefits to man in the provision of meat for human consumption, it can be hazardous to public health with respect to the untreated generated wastes which are discharged into the environment. To ascertain this, 100 wastewater samples from Egbu abattoir in Owerri North L.G.A of Imo State were collected on weekly basis for 3 months and sent to a certified laboratory for microbiological analysis. The wastewater samples were analyzed for microbiological loads using standard microbiological methods. The isolates were then subjected to anti-microbial susceptibility testing using Agar dilution method. The media used for the isolation of bacteria species include the following; Nutrient Agar, Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA), Mannitol Agar, Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMB), and MacConkey Agar. While their antibiotic susceptibility pattern were studied using method of Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). The results obtained shows that the mean values of bacteria counts ranged from 2.6 x 104cfu/ml–6.0x105cfu/ml for abattoir wastewater samples. The following genera of Enterobacteriaceae were isolated; Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Shigella species, Citrobacter species, Enterobacter species, Providencia species, Proteus species, Klebsiella species, and Serratia species. Out of the 100 isolates obtained 26 (26%) were Escherichia coli, 12 (12%) were Salmonella species, 11 (11%) were Citrobacter species, 11 (11%) were Klebsiella species, 10 (10%) were Enterobacter species, 9 (9%) were Providencia species, 8 (8%) were Shigella species, 7 (7%) were Serratia species, 6 (6%) were Proteus species. Providencia species were completely sensitive to all the antibiotics except for chloramphenicol, augmentin and streptomycin. Serratia species and Klebsiella species were completely sensitive to septrin while Citrobacter species, Salmonella species, Shigella species, Enterobacter species, and Escherichia coli were all resistant to septrin. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antibiotic as all the bacteria isolates were almost highly susceptible to it. The results obtained shows that pathogenic species like Escherichia coli and Salmonella species were present in significant numbers in the abattoir wastewater with varying degrees of resistance to septrin, amoxicillin, and streptomycin, thus, indicating that they are multi-drug resistant organisms. Therefore, there is need for treating abattoir wastewater before discharge and also, to monitor abattoirs to ensure compliance to health and safety standards.