Antibiotic resistant bacteria in raw cow milk and milk products retailed in the northern region of Ghana; a food safety challenge

Abstract

The presence of antimicrobial resistant foodborne bacteria is a major food safety challenge for food that is consumed raw. Abuse and overuse of antibiotics in the agriculture sector has been identified as a contributory factor to the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. In many developing countries where milk is marketed and consumed raw through informal channels, the occurrence of bacterial contamination is high and poses a major public health risk. This situation is exacerbated when caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Hence this study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistant pattern of bacteria in raw cow milk and milk products retailed in the Northern Region of Ghana. Antibiotic resistance profiles were established for 150 bacteria isolates (Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp. Shigella spp. and Proteus spp.) obtained from the culture of raw milk (n=210) and milk products (n=60) retailed within the Northern region of Ghana. Susceptibility to nine antimicrobials commonly used in veterinary and human medical practice was performed on all the isolates using the agar disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Isolates showed highest resistance to Nalidixic acid followed by Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and Ceftriaxone but were most susceptible to Ciprofloxacin and Ampicillin. About 25 – 47.6 % of Staphylococcus aureus showed resistance to Cefoxitin. Milk and milk products sold in the northern region of Ghana are contaminated with bacterial pathogens with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. A one health approach is required to curtail the threat of antibacterial resistant bacteria in the food chain.

Comparative Approach of the Antibiotics Susceptibility of some Bacterial Strains Concurrently Isolated from Raw Milk and Cattle Feed (Water and Fodder) from some Farms in the West Region of Cameroon (Central Africa)

“…Similarly, Bonyadian and collaborators, reported that E. coli isolates from raw cow's milk and unpasteurized cheese showed resistance to ampicillin (66%), gentamicin (69.6%) and ciprofloxacin (56.7%) [23]. Resistance rates in our study are lower than those reported in Nigeria, but far higher than those reported in the northern region of Ghana [24,20]. In this study we also detected high sensitivity of E. coli to ofloxacin (100, 78 and 70%), chloramphenicol (57, 78 and 90%) and gentamicin (86, 100 and 100%) (Fig 1).…”

“…The high resistance detected among E. coli strains has been reported in other studies in Africa. In the northern region of Ghana, isolates from milk and milk products showed greater resistance to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ceftriaxone, but were most susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ampicillin [20]. In Ethiopia, Tadesse and collaborators, showed that E. coli strains isolated from dairy, fruit juice and cow's milk were highly resistant to gentamicin (100%), ciprofloxacin (90%), ampicillin (70%), tetracycline (60%) and chloramphenicol (50%) [21].…”

“…Salmonella spp. isolated from raw milk and dairy products in the northern region of Ghana showed high resistance to chloramphenicol (100.0%) and ampicillin (90-100.0%) respectively, but low resistance to ciprofloxacin (0-10%) and gentamicin (20.0%) [20]. Teshome and collaborators, reported that 95.0% of Salmonella spp.…”

Presence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Bacteria Isolated from Raw Cow Milk obtained from Bowen University Dairy Farm.

“…One hundred and fifty (150) bacterial isolates from raw milk and milk products were evaluated against nine antimicrobials that are often used in veterinary and human medical practice in the Northern region of Ghana. The isolates exhibited the highest levels of resistance to nalidixic acid, followed by chloramphenicol, gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ceftriaxone, but were primarily susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ampicillin [15]. In a study by Thonda et al [16] in Osun State, E. coli isolates obtained from cow milk, yoghurt, and cheese were found to be multiple antibiotic-resistant kinds, revealing seventeen different multiple antibiotic resistance patterns.…”

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Africa: Molecular analysis of clinical specimens of suspected cases in Northern Ghana

“…Reagents for gene amplification were constituted in reaction mixtures A and B (AM-A and AM-B). Regions of the DNA associated with mutations that are most frequently identified in resistant strains conferring resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin were amplified in the presence of 10 µL AM-A, 35…”