ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND VIRULENCE GENES PROFILING OF PROTEUS SPECIES FROM POULTRY FARMS IN LAFIA, NIGERIA

The poultry industry is important in boosting food sustainability of a population; however, the poultry environment and products are susceptible to pathogen contamination arising from poor farm hygienic conditions. This study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile of Proteus species from the environment and products of four selected poultry farms in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Farm samples (n =216) comprising feed (64), drinking water (64) and swabs from eggshells (88) were collected and analysed for detection of Proteus species using cultural, biochemical and microscopic techniques. Antibiotics susceptibilities of isolates were also determined, and virulence genes were confirmed using Polymerase Chain Reaction. Of the total studied samples, 34.26% (74/216) were positive for Proteus species. Proteus species were more prevalent in drinking water samples (37.84%) and feed samples (33.78%) and least prevalent in eggshells (28.38%). Proteus species (n= 74) comprised P. mirabilis 78% (58/74) and Proteus vulgaris 22% (16/74). P. mirabilis was markedly higher than P. vulgaris in all the four farms sampled. Farms A and D had the highest prevalence of Proteus species, while Farms A and C (80%), and Farm D (25) has the highest prevalence of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris respectively. The isolates’ prevalence rate within and between farms, sample type, and species was not statistically significantly different (p≥0.05) from the other farms. Isolates were 100% susceptible to Amikacin and showed the highest resistance (25.7%) to tetracycline. Molecular analysis of the virulence genes of Proteus species revealed the presence of rsbA , ureC and luxS virulent genes in all the test isolates. Data generated indicates a high level of multidrug-resistant pathogenic strains of Proteus circulating in poultry farms in Lafia, Nigeria, which potentiates a significant risk of transmission of pathogenic Proteus via the food chain. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.