African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5238

Full Length Research Paper

Demonstration of antibiotic resistance genes strA, blaTEM, tetA, tetC and sul2 in Avibacterium paragallinarum

Byarugaba D. K.1*, Minga U. M.2, Gwakisa P. S.3, Katunguka-Rwakishaya E.4, Bisgaard M.5, Christensen H.5 and Olsen J. E.5
  1Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. 2The Open University of Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. 3Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chu Kikuu, Morogoro Tanzania. 4Makerere University Graduate School, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. 5Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 4 Stigbolen DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 30 July 2011
  •  Published: 16 October 2011

Abstract

 

Avibacterium paragallinarum causes a highly contagious disease in chickens called infectious coryza.  We have previously isolated A. paragallinarum from diseased chickens and demonstrated their virulence in experimental infection in different poultry species. In the present study, the isolates were screened for selected resistance genes for clinically relevant antibiotics. The study demonstrated resistance genes for sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, streptomycin and ampicillin resistance in the isolates. Multiple resistance and resistance genes to streptomycin (strA), ampicillin (blaTEM), tetracycline (tetC and tetA) and sulphamethoxazole (sul2) in isolates of A. paragallinarum are reported. The demonstration of these genes in A. paragallinarum, similar to what has been demonstrated in other respiratory pathogens, is a concern for potential horizontal spread of multiple drug resistance leading to treatment failures in different respiratory diseases.

 

Key words: Antibiotic resistance genes, Avibacterium paragallinarum.