ABSTRACT
A survey using tube agglutination test was conducted to determine the antibody prevalence to Listeria monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 3a and 4b in 1,190 serum samples of 8 animals species from various sources in Kano and Kaduna states of Nigeria. Following absorption with Staphylococcus aureus antigen to remove cross-reacting agglutinins, 52 (68.4 p. 100) of the horse samples were positive. Twenty-six (36.1 p. 100) pig, 52 (20.8 p. 100) cattle, 50 (20.0 p. 100) goat, 20 (20.0 p. 100) dog, serum samples were also positive. Free-ranging chickens had an antibody prevalence of 18 (32.1 p. 100) while those intensively managed had 3 (6.8 p. 100), a difference found to be statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.01; X2). Sheep sera collected from Zaria abattoir had a prevalence of 30 (14.7 p. 100) while those from Ahmadu Bello University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital had 6 (13.0 p. 100) prevalence. The prevalence in camel was 4 (4.3 p. 100). Overall, of the 1,190 serum samples tested, 26 (21.9 p. 100) were sero-positive for L. monocytogenes agglutinins. Each species of animal tested for L. monocytogenes was positive for all five serotypes, except camel which was negative for serotype 3a. Fourty-four (53.0 p. 100) samples were positive at a titre of greater than or equal to 480 for serotypes 1/2a, 60 (58.3 p. 100) for 1/2b, 57 (52.3 p. 100) for 1/2c, 7 (13.7 p. 100) for 3a and 23 (39.0 p. 100) for 4b. It is concluded that L. monocytogenes infection is widespread in domestic animals in Nigeria.
