Antimicrobial Resistance Among Selected Zoonotic Bacteria: A Case Study of Tortoises and Birds at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre

ABSTRACT Background Zoonotic diseases are a health challenge at the human–wildlife interface with increasing threat to public health. This study aimed at generating baseline data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in tortoises and birds at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC). Objectives The objectives of the study were determining the common antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria among birds and tortoises, to establish the antibiograms of isolated bacteria and lastly to genotypically screen the selected genes that code for resistance using a conventional polymerization chain reaction. Methods Standard bacteriological methods of culturing and isolation of bacteria, Kirby–Bauer sensitivity method and molecular techniques were used at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity at Makerere University. Results Escherichia coli was isolated from all the 23 bird samples, 23/23 (100%). In the tortoises, 2/15 (13%) and 13/15 (86%) isolates were E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis , respectively. E. coli showed equally higher resistance to ampicillin and SXT (68%), whereas S. enteritidis exhibited resistance to only ciprofloxacin (30.8%). Sul‐2 resistance genes were detected in 52% of E. coli and 15.4% of S. enteritidis isolates. Conclusion The UWEC management and workers are encouraged to take care and use personal protection equipment when handling the birds and tortoises to minimize the possibility of transfer of MDR isolates from animals to humans.