Fungi Isolated from Poultry Droppings Express Antagonism against Clinical Bacteria Isolates

Aim: This study was conducted to isolate antibiotic producing fungi from poultry droppings.

Place and Duration of Study: Poultry droppings were collected from poultry farms and markets within Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State between March 2017 and October 2017.

Methodology: One hundred and fifty poultry dropping samples were analyzed. One (1) g of fresh poultry droppings were weighed and serially diluted. The dilutions were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Potato Dextrose Agar for five days. Isolates were characterized morphologically and microscopically. Isolates showing antagonism were subjected to submerged fermentation. The Screening and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the secondary metabolite extracts was done using agar well diffusion method. The isolates were screened for antagonism against four bacteria isolates namely, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Results: Five isolates namely, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tubingensis, Rhizomucor variabilis, Aspergillus aculeatus and Candida rugosa were identified. Aspergillus tubingensis and Rhizomucor variabilis showed antagonism against the test bacteria during preliminary screening. Aspergillus tubingensis and Rhizomucor variabilis showed antagonism against Bacillus subtilis. After fermentation, the secondary metabolite extracts from Aspergillus tubingensis and Rhizomucor variabilis, were active against Bacillus subtilis at different concentrations with MIC of 20.27mg/ml and 12.72mg/ml respectively.

Conclusion: The extracts from two fungal isolates namely; Aspergillus tubingensis and Rhizomucor variabilis exhibited antagonism against Bacillus subtilisonly. The extracts when purified, may serve as a new drug molecule produced from natural source.