Prevalence of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus in poultry farms in Kiambu County, Kenya: a One Health approach

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Pan African Medical Journal One Health

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Abstract

Introduction: the commensal bacteria, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. are abundant in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. However, these two bacteria could also turn out to be opportunistic pathogens, as well as carriers of antimicrobial resistance genes, leading to a public health hazard in the human, animal, and environmental domains. Methods: this crosssectional study investigated the prevalence of bacteria in chicken and their link to humans and the environment. Various microbiological isolation and characterization techniques were employed to identify Escherichia coliand Enterococcusspp. across all the variables investigated under the one health approach. Results: heavy contamination (>300 colony-forming units) with the two study bacteria was recorded on all the chicken handlers' hands. A prevalence of above 80% of Enterococcus spp. was observed across all the variables investigated. The same prevalence was noted for E. coli, with an exceptional prevalence of 10.8% in chicken handlers’ hands. E. coli and Enterococcus were highly prevalent in chicken and environmental samples, with greater than 95% positivity, while only 9.8% of human pathogens were positive for both pathogens. Prevalence of E. coli (χ2= 331.22, p < 0.001) and Enterococcus (χ2= 43.27, p < 0.00) differed strongly by source. Conclusion: co-occurrence may reflect shared transmission routes, similar survival niches, or environmental/ecological overlap. This could facilitate the transfer of bacteria among humans, chickens, and the environment, some of which may be antimicrobial-resistant. There is, therefore, a need to promote best farm practices, including hand hygiene, to reduce bacterial transmission risks from animals to humans, and vice versain a shared environment.

Keywords

commensal bacteria, One Health, opportunistic pathogens, Prevalence, transmission risk

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