Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella Isolates in Chicken Carcasses in Dakar, Senegal.

The incidence of the Salmonella contamination of poultry products in Senegal is unknown. Salmonella contamination and antimicrobial drug resistance profiles in chicken carcasses were investigated. Between July 2012 and July 2013, three types of chicken carcasses (broilers, laying hens, and premises chickens) obtained from retailers in the markets of Dakar and its suburbs were tested for Salmonella contamination. Salmonella strains were isolated from 300 chicken carcasses according to International Organization for Standardization ISO 6579 (2002) guidelines. In these samples, 273 isolates were obtained, belonging to 22 serovars, and 53% samples were contaminated with at least 1 serovar. Standardized techniques were used for the susceptibility testing and serotyping of isolates. Hygiene conditions, in terms of the cleanliness of stalls, the packing of chicken carcasses in bags, and the maintenance of the cold chain at the stall, were moderately poor. The three serovars most frequently identified were Salmonella Istanbul (28%), Salmonella Brancaster (19%), and Salmonella Kentucky (13%). Overall, 21% of isolates were resistant to quinolones and fluoroquinolones. Serovar Istanbul was resistant to tetracycline (TE) and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (SXT). Serovars Brancaster and Kentucky were resistant to betalactams and to quinolones or fluoroquinolones. The uncommon serovar Senftenberg had the strongest resistance profile, displaying resistance to betalactams including imipenem (IMP). Large numbers of isolates were resistant to TE (66%) and SXT (47%). Resistance to cephalosporins (5%), chloramphenicol (2%), gentamicin (8%), and IMP (1%) was less frequent. A large proportion of the broilers sold in Dakar markets were contaminated with Salmonella. This situation probably resulted from poor hygiene conditions in chicken farms and slaughterhouses and from breaks in the cold chain at some point in the distribution of poultry products.

Seroprevalence and potential risk factors for Brucella spp. infection in traditional cattle, sheep and goats reared in urban, periurban and rural areas of Niger.

INTRODUCTION: In Niamey, Niger, interactions within the interface between animals, humans and the environment induce a potential risk of brucellosis transmission between animals and from animals to humans. Currently, little is known about the transmission of Brucella in this context. RESULTS: 5,192 animals from 681 herds were included in the study. Serum samples and hygroma fluids were collected. A household survey enabled to identify the risk factors for transmission of brucellosis. The true adjusted herd-level prevalence of brucellosis ranged between 11.2% and 17.2% and the true adjusted animal-population level prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9-1.8%) based on indirect ELISA test for Brucella antibodies. Animals aged of 1-4 years were found to be more susceptible than animals less than 1 year old (Odds ratio [OR] of 2.7; 95% CI: 1.43-5.28). For cattle, the odds of brucellosis seropositivity were higher in rural compared to the periurban areas (OR of 2.8; 95% CI: 1.48-5.17) whereas for small ruminants the risk of seropositivity appeared to be higher in urban compared to periurban areas (OR of 5.5; 95% CI: 1.48-20.38). At herd level, the risk of transmission was increased by transhumance (OR of 5.4; 95% CI: 2.84-10.41), the occurrence of abortions (OR of 3.0; 95% CI: 1.40-6.41), and for herds having more than 50 animals (OR of 11.0; 95% CI: 3.75-32.46). Brucella abortus biovar 3 was isolated from the hygromas. CONCLUSION: brucellosis in Niger is a serious problem among cattle especially in the rural areas around Niamey and among sheep in the urban areas of Niamey. The seroprevalence varies across strata and animal species with important risk factors including herd size, abortion and transhumance at herd level and age at animal population level. For effective control of brucellosis, an integrated approach seems appropriate involving all stakeholders working in public and animal health.