Evaluation of biosecurity practices and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli in small- to medium-scale broiler farms in Zimbabwe

This poster, presented at the 2025 ReAct Africa and South Centre Conference, presents findings from a baseline assessment of biosecurity practices and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in broiler farms across three districts—Seke, Goromonzi, and Zvimba—in Zimbabwe. Conducted among small- to medium-scale broiler farmers participating in Farmer Field Schools (FFS), the study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial use, farm-level hygiene practices, and resistance patterns to inform targeted interventions for AMR mitigation in poultry production.

A cross-sectional survey was administered to 130 farmers, alongside testing of 206 cloacal swabs from broiler chickens. E. coli was isolated from all samples, with high levels of resistance observed: 98% to tetracycline, 85% to sulphamethoxazole, and 71% to ampicillin. Resistance to critical antibiotics like gentamicin and meropenem was lower, at 20% and 12%, respectively. Farm assessments revealed widespread gaps in biosecurity: 98% of farms lacked visitor logbooks, 81% had no footbaths, and 93% had no handwashing stations.

The results indicate some weaknesses in biosecurity practices and a high prevalence of resistance to commonly used antibiotics. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to strengthen biosecurity infrastructure, promote responsible antimicrobial use, and expand farmer education, particularly through FFS.