ABSTRACT

The present study was aimed at the isolation and antibiogram study of Salmonella spp from various poultry feeds (starter, grower and layer feeds) and fecal droppings in some selected poultry farms in Umudike. 144 samples (72 feed samples and 72 fecal dropping samples) were used for the study and all  the  samples were cultured on Salmonella-Shigella agar and the organisms were identified using biochemical tests and by Gram staining, the microbial load of the organisms were determined by carrying out 5 fold serial dilution of the samples. The biochemical results and Gram staining results showed that all the isolates from the samples were Salmonella spp. The prevalence of Salmonella was highest in the poultry droppings than in the poultry feeds. The highest number of Salmonella spp occurred in the feed samples for growers (37.5%) while the lowest occurred in the starters (20.8%) while the highest occurrence of Salmonella in fecal droppings was 66.67%. The highest TVC of Salmonella isolates in the feeds were 118.67± 1.15 x 105Cfuml-1 while the highest TVC in the fecal droppings was 145.00±6.56x105 Cfuml-1.The antimicrobial testing showed that the isolated Salmonella spp were highly sensitive to Gentamycin, Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin, moderately sensitive to Erythromycin and Streptomycin but highly resistant to Augmentin and Ampicillin.  The present study indicates that Salmonella spp are more prevalent in the fecal droppings of poultry birds than in the feeds of poultry birds. The study also indicates that Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin can be used as first line therapies for Salmonella gastroenteritis from poultry sources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

List of Tables ix

List of Figures x

Abstract             xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study    1

1.2 Aim of the study                3

1.3 Objectives of the study    3

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 General overview of Salmonella                                        4

2.1.1 History of Salmonella    4

2.1.2 Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Salmonella    4

2.2 Pathogenesis of Salmonella                5

2.3 Epidemiology of Salmonella contamination in poultry products                  6

2.4 Salmonella Contamination                                        7

2.4.1 Sources of Salmonella    8

2.4.2 Clinical manifestation of Salmonella    9

2.5 Clinical prevalence of Salmonella spp among poultry products    9

2.6 Chicken as a reservoir of Salmonella                           11

2.7 Isolation of Salmonella from Chicken                           12

2.7.1 Isolation of Salmonella from Poultry fecal droppings                                       14

2.8 Characterization of Salmonella                             14

2.8.1 Cultural characteristics of Salmonella spp                             14

2.8.2 Biochemical characteristics of Salmonella                           15

2.5 Antibiogram study of Salmonella                                                                               16

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Description of study area    18

3.2 Sample collection and Sample sizes                19

3.3 Transportation of Samples                19

3.4 Preparation of Media                                                                                                    22

3.5 Determination of microbial load                            22

3.6 Isolation of Salmonella from Poultry feeds                                                                 23

3.7 Isolation of Salmonella from Poultry fecal droppings                            23                                                                 

3.8 Identification of the Isolated organisms                                        23

3.8.1 Gram staining    23

3.8.2 Biochemical test of the isolates    24

3.8.3 Methyl Red test    24

3.8.4Voges-Proskeaur test                            24

3.8.5 Catalase test                            24

3.8.6 Oxidase test                            24

3.8.7 Citrate test                25

3.9 Antibiogram study of the Salmonella isolates    25

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT 

4.1 Result                        26-37

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Discussion             37

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                                40

5.3 Recommendation                                                                                                      40

 References