Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Isolates from Calves with Respiratory Affections

Abstract

Calves are indispensable assets of the poor dairy farmers as they play an important role in determining the profitability of the dairy farms. Calf hood diseases are considered to be cause of economic losses in the livestock sector, respiratory affections being the major one. The present work was conducted to monitor the antimicrobial resistance against the isolates obtained from the upper respiratory tract of bovine calves in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. Nasal swabs were collected from 46 clinically sick calves showing respiratory signs. The samples were processed for bacteriological studies to check for microbial growth colonies. Disc diffusion method was used to study the drug sensitivity pattern using standard protocol. Ciprofloxacin was found to be the most sensitive antibiotic followed by Gentamicin. The most resistant of all antibiotics was Cloxacillin. Thus, the present study was conducted so that better prophylactic measures and treatment could be met accordingly to further sustain the animal life.