Antibiogram Pattern of Potential Pathogenic Bacteria Associated with Domestic Dog Faecal Matter in Port Harcourt Metropolis

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the Antibiogram pattern of Potential Pathogenic Bacteria that are associated with Domestic dog faecal matter in Port Harcourt Metropolis. Convenient sampling techniques were explored for sample collection. A total of fifty samples were collected from domestic dogs from different locations (Agip estates, Rumuokoro, GRA, Sandfill, Town, RSU lecturers’ quarters) within Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. The bacteriological analysis was determined using standard microbiological procedures and identification techniques. Potential pathogens associated with domestic dog faecal matter that were isolated include; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas species, Proteus species, Bacillus species, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species. However other species of Staphylococcus were also isolated respectively. The study showed that among the seven antibiotics used, tarivid was the most sensitive (96%), while peflacin was the most resistant (62%). The correlation analysis showed the relationship between isolates and bacterial count with antibiogram revealed that only Ciproflaxacin showed significant correlation with the isolates (r = 0.322, p = 0.02). This study strongly suggests that domestic dogs carry potential pathogenic organisms present in the faecal matter that can serve as sources of infection to the pet owners, especially the strains showing resistance to antibiotics. These pose a community health threat, thus putting the general public at risk of contracting infections. It is, therefore, important that these domestic dogs including the ones used as pets should be treated and possibly vaccinated frequently, even as faecal matter from domestic dogs should be well disposed to prevent possible zoonotic infections to man from the contaminated environment.