ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Staphylococcus aureus IN ABATTOIR ENVIRONMENT

ABSTRACT

Abattoir is a facility where animals are slaughtered to provide food for humans. However, microbial contamination in slaughterhouses resulting from the several unhygienic practices could be of detriments to public health. The study aimed at determining the prevalence and evaluating the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus associated with abattoir environment in Benin City, Edo State. A total of 60 samples which include 20 floor surfaces, 15 table surfaces, 15 processing water and 10 effluents from abattoir environment in Benin City, Nigeria were microbiologically assessed using cultural and biochemical techniques. The antibiotic susceptibility profile was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus were tables [4/15(26.7%)], floor surfaces [10/20 (50%)], processing water [0/15(0%)], effluents [7/10 70.0%)]. The highest prevalence occurred in effluents samples while there was no occurrence observed in the processing samples. The distribution of Staphylococcus species based on abattoir location were Airport road [(4/12(33.3%)], Oluku [5/12 (41.7%)], Ikpoba slope 1 [4/12 (33.3%)] Ikpoba slope 2 [3/12 (25%)] and Ikpoba slope 3 [5/12(41.7%)]. The highest prevalence was observed at Oluku and Ikpoba slope 3 (41.7%) while the least prevalence was observed at Ikpoba slope 2 (25%). The highest antibiotic resistance was demonstrated against ceftriaxone with a resistance rate of 83.3% while there was no resistance observed towards ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of Staphylococcus aureus in this study ranged from 0.71 - 0.29. All the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics and demonstrated an MAR index greater than or equal to 0.29.