OCCURRENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF AEROMANAS SPECIES FROM PIG AND GOAT FAECES IN OMBI 1 LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE

ABSTRACT Occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of Aeromonas species from pigs and goat faeces in Ombi I Lafia, Nasarawa State. The study aimed to determine the occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of Aeromonas species isolated from pigs and goats faeces in Ombi I, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Faecal samples from pigs and goats raised in ten (10) different households in Ombi I Lafia were obtained; methods described by Onuoha et al. (2022). The results shows the microbial load, CFU/ml of pigs and goats faeces; from the present study results, Pig10 sample has the highest number of colonies (95) and CFU/ml (9.5 x 107) while Pig9 has 30 number of colonies and 3 x 107 CFU/ml as the lowest. Goat5 sample with 80 number of colonies and 8 x 107 CFU/ml as the highest and Goat1 sample with the lowest number of colonies (25) with CFU/ml of 2.5 x 107. Further, The antibiotics used to carry out the susceptibility test on Aeromonas species (pigs) are Imipenem, Gentamicin, Meropenem, Tobramycin and Amoxicillin showing their susceptibility (S) to the antifungal agent, intermediate (I) is the probability of the antibiotic working depending on the dosage (i.e. it may work with higher dosage and may not work with low dosage) and resistance (R) is unlikely to be effective, the values are as follows; Imipenem 12 (80%) Susceptible, 2 (13%) Intermediate, 3 (20%) Resistance, followed by Gentamicin 3 (20%) Susceptible, 1 (7%) Intermediate, 12 (80%) Resistance then, Meropenem 6 (40%) Susceptible, 2 (13%) Intermediate, 7 (47%) Resistance, and also Tobramycin 4 (27%) Susceptible, 2 (13%) Intermediate, 10 (67%) Resistance, while Amoxicillin 0 (0%) Susceptible, 1 (7%) Intermediate, 15 (100%) Resistance. Characterization and identification of isolated Aeromonas species was A. hydrophila a gram negative bacilli to coccibacilli, which displays straight rods with rounded ends morphology. Biochemical tests carried out on indole, catalase and oxidase are all positive. This concluded that Aeromonas in pig faeces poses a greater threat in terms of antibiotic resistance compared to those in goat faeces. This study recommends the need for regular antimicrobial susceptibility testing to guide effective treatment, as well as the importance of monitoring antibiotic use in agriculture to prevent the spread of resistant strains. Key words: Aeromonas species, Resistance, Susceptible Intermediate and Colonies.