Fecal carriage and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Enterococcus faecalis. in day-old chicks imported into Benin

This poster, originally presented at the 2024 ReAct Africa and South Centre Conference, shares findings from a study assessing the presence and resistance profiles of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Enterococcus spp. in imported day-old chicks in Benin.

Benin relies heavily on imports of day-old broiler chickens due to limited local hatchery capacity, sourcing them via formal (primarily European air transport) and informal (primarily Nigerian road transport) channels. Given the extent of the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance in the poultry industry in Benin, the study explores the role of the importation of day-old chicks and hatching eggs in the introduction of this resistance into poultry farms in Benin.

The study confirms the importation of day-old chicks as a potential source of antibiotic resistance in Benin, particularly from Nigeria. These results underline the importance of continuous monitoring of bacterial resistance at the borders of Benin, particularly in the informal entry circuits for day-old chicks.