ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella serovars from poultry and poultry farm-handlers. Study Design: Investigative Place and Duration of Study: Samples were analyzed at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom and Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. This work was carried out between August 2012 and April 2013. Methodology: Samples were pre-enriched in buffered peptone water followed by selective enrichment using Selenite Faeces Broth and Rappaport-Vassilidis Broth. Isolation and identification was made by inoculating the selectively enriched sample on to Salmonella-Shigella agar, Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar and Brilliant Green agar followed by confirmation of presumptive colonies using different biochemical tests and analytical profile index 20 E. Polyvalent (O) and (H) Salmonella antisera were used for serotyping the Salmonella isolates. The CLSI, 2010 method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing Results: A prevalence rate of 10.9% was observed from the 450 samples. Serovars of Salmonella detected were S. Gallinarum 57.2%, S. Typhimurium 8.2%, S. Typhi 20.4%, S. Pullorum 6.1%, S. Enteritidis 6.1% and S. Paratyphi A 2.0%. Statistically, significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between isolates and occurrence at different sample sites. The isolates were 100% resistant to oxacillin, 96.0% to ampicillin, 93.9% tylosin, 83.7 5 ceftazidime and 63.3% oxytetracycline. Five of the isolates were 100% resistant to more than five different antibiotics. There was statistical significant difference (p<0.01) in antimicrobial resistance patterns exhibited by the serovars. However, the isolates showed sensitivity to gentamycin 100%, gendox 83.7%, ciprofloxacin 81.6% and amoxicillinclavulanic acid 57.1%. Conclusion: The study revealed emergence of multiple-drug resistant Salmonella serovars from poultry and poultry farm handlers. We therefore suggest further epidemiological studies.