BACKGROUND: Poultry farming is one of the most productive and economic agricultural sectors. However, the bacterial contamination and the activity of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) as a potential reservoir of Salmonella in meat poultry farms can inflict direct and indirect damages.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify the darkling beetles and their accompanying Enterobacteriaceae contamination in Isfahan chicken farms.METHODS: Darkling beetles were collected and identified based on their morphological aspects from different parts of 16 poultry farms (4 from each geographical area) in Isfahan Province, Iran. Then, 80 samples of darkling beetles were cultured on selective-differential media culture of the Enterobacteriaceae family using the homogenization and enrichment method. The isolated bacteria were identified based on physiological and molecular characteristics. Also, specific antisera were used to determine serological groups.RESULTS: The results revealed that all collected darkling beetles’ samples belonged to the species Alphitobius diaperinus (Col., Tenebrionidae), and from 80 microbial culture samples from the beetles, isolated bacteria belonged into 4 genera: Escherichia sp. (20 isolates, 25 %), Klebsiella sp. (8 isolates, 10 %), Proteus sp. (22 isolates, 27.5 %), and Salmonella sp. (30 isolates, 37.5 %). Among them, the Salmonella genus accounted for the highest percentage of darkling beetles’ contamination. In the serological assay, the isolated Salmonella were classified into two serogroups, A (23 isolates, 76.67 %) and C (C2 and C3) (7 isolates, 23.33 %), which the A serogroup was the most frequent.CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the A. diaperinus species was isolated and identified for the first time from poultry farms, and this pest, with a high percentage of Salmonella infection, is introduced as one of the reservoir sources of bacterial contamination in the broiler farms.

Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to gentamicin has become an increasingly common problem among clinical isolates from human beings. Susceptibility of isolates from horses to gentamicin and amikacin was evaluated for the period from July, 1983 to June, 1985. All isolates of Escherichia coli, and species of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas examined were susceptible to amikacin, except 2 of the 46 Pseudomonas isolates. In contrast, 13 to 50% of isolates were resistant to gentamicin. Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella, Proteus, and Enterobacter species isolates were highly significantly more susceptible to amikacin (P less than 0.01) than to gentamicin. Pseudomonas spp (P = 0.13) were not significantly different in susceptibility to the 2 drugs. There was significant variation among genera in their susceptibility to gentamicin (P = 0.002), primarily because of the frequency of resistance in isolates of Klebsiella spp and Proteus spp, compared with the other 3 organisms (E coli, Enterobacter spp, and Pseudomonas spp). There was no significant difference of susceptibility to amikacin among the genera studied (P = 0.06).

Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to gentamicin has become an increasingly common problem among clinical isolates from human beings. Susceptibility of isolates from horses to gentamicin and amikacin was evaluated for the period from July, 1983 to June, 1985. All isolates of Escherichia coli, and species of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas examined were susceptible to amikacin, except 2 of the 46 Pseudomonas isolates. In contrast, 13 to 50% of isolates were resistant to gentamicin. Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella, Proteus, and Enterobacter species isolates were highly significantly more susceptible to amikacin (P less than 0.01) than to gentamicin. Pseudomonas spp (P = 0.13) were not significantly different in susceptibility to the 2 drugs. There was significant variation among genera in their susceptibility to gentamicin (P = 0.002), primarily because of the frequency of resistance in isolates of Klebsiella spp and Proteus spp, compared with the other 3 organisms (E coli, Enterobacter spp, and Pseudomonas spp). There was no significant difference of susceptibility to amikacin among the genera studied (P = 0.06).

The aim of this study was to investigate the bacteria found in different parts of the genital system in cows and the susceptibility to different types of antibiotics. The genital systems of sixteen cows were collected from Al-Hilla, Iraq slaughterhouse. Isolation and identification of bacteria were made for each part of the genital system and antibiotic susceptibility tests was conducted to the isolated bacteria. The results of this study indicated that there were several types of bacteria present in the genital systems of cows. Different species of bacteria were isolated from the samples including, Escherichia coli (28.97)%, Klebsiella spp. (16.82)%, Salmonella spp. (14.95)%, Proteus spp. (13.08)%, Staphylococcus aureus (11.21)%, Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.41)% and Streptococcus spp. (6.54)%. In vitro susceptibility towards different types of antibiotic indicated high susceptibility of Escherichia coli to antibiotic group impenem and ciprofloxacin, while Klebsiella spp. was found to be most susceptible to ciprofloxacin and amikacin. Both Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. showed resistance to piperacillin and tetracycline. It was concluded that Escherichia coli was the most predominant bacteria in genital system of cows and were most susceptible to antibiotic impenem and ciprofloxacin.