Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
AK Prajapati, JS Patel, AI Dadawala, CM Bhadesiya, DV Patel, YJ Chaudhari and LM Sorathiya

Abstract:
Small ruminant rearing is backbone of livestock owners’ economic status in rural areas of India. Among small ruminants, sheep is reared mostly for wool, milk and chevon. Most of the owners keep flocks of sheep confined in a smaller area having direct physical contact with each other. This leaves a possibility of quicker spread of diseases. Respiratory tract diseases are common among sheep in India with nasal discharge as chief complaint. People frequently use antibiotics haphazardly consulting veterinarians when they observe nasal discharge leading to resistance development. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate existing status of antibiogram of bacterial isolates recovered from privately-owned sheep having nasal discharge. The bacteria isolated from nasal swabs of sheep having nasal discharge included Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella spp. Mixed presence of two different isolates was observed highest for Staphylococcus spp. + Escherichia coli followed by Staphylococcus spp. + Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp. + Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp. + Salmonella spp. and Streptococcus spp. + Klebsiella spp. All the bacterial isolates were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test (ABST) using multiple antibiotics. Overall, the bacterial isolates recovered from sheep having nasal discharge as a clinical symptom showed variable sensitivity to antimicrobials such as Gentamicin, Ciprofloxacin, Streptomycin, Clotrimoxazole and Chloramphenicol. Comparatively lesser number of isolates showed sensitivity to Tetracycline, Cefixime, Erythromycin and Ampicillin/Sulbactam combination. All isolates were found to be resistant against Penicillin G, Ampicillin and Cefotaxime. The details have been described in the present paper.