Molecular identification and antibiotic susceptibility of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from domestic pigeons in Shahrekord, Iran

Zoonoses can be transmitted to people by many birds such as pigeons. Considering many people’s interests to keep pigeons، present study was conducted to PCR detection of Aeromonas hydrophila that is cause of many human infections such as gastroenteritis، wound infections and septicemia from pigeons in Shahrekord. Altogether 293 samples of pigeon faeces were collected with sterile cotton swabs from different areas of Shahrekord، Iran. Swabs were placed directly into alkaline peptone water. The enrichment cultures were then streaked on the glutamate starch phenol red agar (GSP agar). Isolates were subjected to different biochemical tests. Suspected colonies to A. hydrophila were tested by PCR. Antibiogram tests were performed using disc diffusion method. A. hydrophila was isolated from 13 (4. 44%) of 293 the samples. Resistance of isolates to Cefotaxime، Ciprofloxacin، Ampicillin، Co-trimoxazole، Trimetoprim، Chloramphenicol and Tetracycline was 0%، 61. 5%، 69. 2%، 84. 6%، 92. 3%، 100% and 100% respectively. Pigeons harbored antibiotics resistant A. hydrophila and could be an important component of drug-resistant A. hydrophila transmission from pigeons to human، especially kids and can pose a risk to human health in the region. Considering of what mentioned it is recommended to make pigeons owners and general public aware of potential dangers of pigeon ownership.