ABSTRACT

A total of 60 feed samples were collected from the feed company to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Each company having a number of 4 samples namely; starter mash, finisher mash, layer mash and grower mash. The isolates were identified based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics. The microbial load of the different isolates showed various values with the different feed source. For Amo feed source, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. showed highest count of 2.48x105 and 2.53x105 respectively both from finisher mash. For vital feed, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. showed highest count of 2.5x105 (starter) and 2.52x105 (finisher) respectively, while for total feed Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. showed highest count of 2.45x105 (starter) and 2.68x105 (starter) respectively. The prevalence of Salmonella spp. in the poultry feeds was higher than Escherichia coli with the percentage of 55. Poultry feeds are reservoir of potential Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. with the zoonotic ability that could be transferred directly from birds to humans, a comprehensive food safety programme should be involved by regulatory bodies in charge of feed production to help reduce losses in poultry industries and prevent food-borne illness.    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of contents v

List of Tables viii

Abstract ix 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Aim and Objectives of the study 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.1 Animal Feed Industry 6

2.1.1 Improvements in the Safety of Animal Feed, should Include 6

2.2 Common Feed Ingredients in Poultry Diets 7

2.3 Importance of Poultry Products for Human Consumption 8

2.4 Evidence that Animal Feed is Frequently Contaminated 

With Bacteria Pathogens 9 

2.5 Sources of Contamination 10

2.5.1 Field Contamination 10

2.5.2 Ingredient Contamination 10

2.5.3 Storage (Temperature and Humidity) 11

2.5.4 Humidity and Transportation 12

2.6 Bacteria Contaminating Poultry Feeds 12

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 14

3.1 Sample Collection 14

3.2 Sterilization of Materials 14

3.3 Media Preparation 14

3.3.1 Salmonella Shigella Agar 14

3.3.2 Eosin Methylene Blue 15

3.3.3 Nutrient Agar 15

3.3.4 Mueller-Hinton Agar 15

3.4 Sample Preparation 15

3.5 Sample Inoculation/Isolation 16

3.6 Isolation of Pure Culture 16

3.7 Microscopy 17

3.8 Staining Technique 17

3.9 Biochemical Testing 18

3.9.1 Motility Test 18

3.9.2 Catalase Test 18

3.9.3 Oxidase Test 18

3.9.4 Indole Test 18

3.9.5 Methyl Red (M.R. Test) 19

3.9.6 Citrate Test 19

3.9.7 Gas from Glucose 19

3.10 Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing 19

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 RESULTS 21

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 DISCUSSION 29

Appendix 31

References 35