Antimicrobial and Herbal Drug Resistance in Enteric Bacteria Isolated from Faecal Droppings of Common House Lizard/Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Abstract

From 194 faecal dropping samples of common house geckos collected from offices (60), houses (88), integrated farm units (IFS,18) and hostels, guest houses, and dining rooms of different canteen/mess (HGM, 28), 326 bacterial isolates of enteric bacteria belonging to 17 genera and 34 species were detected.Escherichia coliwere the most frequently (39) isolated followed byCitrobacter freundii(33),Klebsiella pneumonia(27),Salmonella indica(12),Enterobacter gergoviae(12), andEnt. agglomerans(11). Other important bacteria isolated from gecko droppings wereListonella damsela(2),Raoultella terrigena(3),S. salamae(2),S. houtenae(3),Edwardsiella tarda(4),Edwardsiella hoshinae(1), andKlebsiella oxytoca(2). Of the 223 isolates tested for antimicrobial drug sensitivity, 27 (12.1%) had multiple drug resistance (MDR). None of the salmonellae or edwardsiellae had MDR however, MDR strains were significantly more common amongEscherichiaspp. (P=1.9×10-5) and isolates from IFS units (P=3.58×10-23). The most effective herbal drug,Ageratum conyzoidesextract, inhibited growth of only 27.8% of strains tested followed by ethanolic extract ofZanthoxylum rhetsa(13.9%), eucalyptus oil (5.4%), patchouli oil (5.4%), lemongrass oil (3.6%), and sandalwood oil (3.1%), andArtemisia vulgarisessential oil (3.1%).