ABSTRACT

Human and animal infections caused by Salmonella species remain a significant public health problem worldwide. This work was aimed at isolating Salmonella and assessing the prevalence of Salmonella isolates from poultry farms in Umuahia, Abia State. A total of forty-eight (48) specimens (litter, droppings, water and feed) were collected from two poultry farms and investigated for the presence of Salmonella. The specimens were inoculated into selenite F-broth and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24h. The selenite F-broth culture was subsequently inoculated into Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA) and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24h. The isolates from SSA were characterized by cultural and biochemical tests to identify Salmonella. A total of thirty-five (35) Salmonella isolates were obtained from the forty-eight (48) samples; litter 11(91.67%), feed 7(58.33%), droppings 8(66.67%), and drinking water 9(75%). The distribution of Salmonella isolates in the poultry locations showed that Gochiez poultry farms in Umuagu Ibeku (Umuahia North) had eighteen (18) Salmonella isolates while Oji Integrated poultry farms had seventeen (17) isolates. The detection of Salmonella isolates in poultry farms in this study poses health hazards to other birds and humans.