Ashenafi, Mogessie (Professor)Bekele, Behailu2018-07-132023-11-082018-07-132023-11-082006-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/8512Surveillance of the prevalence of zonootic bacteria and resistant commensals in food animals is necessary to control the spread of the pathogens and resistant commensal bacteria to humans through contaminated animal food products and to the environment via their faecal material. This study was designed to see the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in enterococci from poultry and cattle; to asses the prevalence of Ecoli 0157 H7 from cattle, and that of Salmonella from cattle and poultry. Two hundred eighty cloacal swabs collected from poultry were examined for the presence of Salmonella and enterococci and the isolates were tested for their resistance to an array of 8 and 11 different antibiotics, respectively. Similarly, 450 fresh faecal samples collected from cattle were examined for the presence of E coli 0157 H7, Salmonella and enterococci. The Salmonella and enterococci isolates from cattle were tested for their resistance to an array of 8 and 9 different antibiotics, respectively. Entercoccus (aecium was the most dominant species in both poultry and cattle (49.6% and 34/64), followed by Enterococcus durans (26.9% and 21/64). The prevalence of Salmonella in poultry and cattle was 15.4% and 1.8%, respectively. None of the cattle faecal samples was positive for Escherichia coli 0157:H7. Resistance to the antibiotics tested was seen in all species from poultry. All E faecalis isolates showed susceptibility to amikacin. There was no significant difference among farms and species in their percentage of resistant isolates to the different antibiotics, except difference among farms in percentage mean resistant isolate for penicillin G and vancomycin (at 0=0.05). Vancomycin resistance was observed in 44% of enterococcal isolates from poultry in the four farms and in 17% isolated from cattle. Multiple drug resistance (MDR) was observed in 78.2% and 90.6% enterocccal isolates from poultry and cattle, respectively. Entercoccal isolates from cattle showed resistance with varying percentage to all antibiotics tested, except amikacin. Among the Salmonella isolates 16 from poultry and 1 from cattle showed MDR. The presence of MDR isolates in the commensal and pathogenic microbes is a serious public heath concern. The government and concerned bodies should focus and work more in the area. Key words/phrase: Antibiotic resistance, Enterococci, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, MDR, SalmonellaenAntibiotic resistanceEnterococciEscherichia coli 0157:H7MDRSalmonellaThesis