Prevalence of Salmonella Isolated from Poultry Farms and Domestic Chicken Coops in Southern Taraba, North-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Salmonella remains a public health menace responsible for reoccurring cases of gastroenteric disorders and morbidity. Poultry sources, including eggs, meat, and excretes, are significant sources of zoonotic Salmonella transmission in the environment. This first-of-its-kind prevalence research in Southern Taraba was conducted in Donga, Takum, Wukari, and Ibi communities. A total of 500 fecal samples collected from small-scale poultry farms and domestic chicken coops were examined using standard microbiological techniques. The highest number of Salmonella isolates from this research was recorded in Wukari, with 36. This was closely followed by Takum, with a total of 27 isolates, while Ibi and Donga had 19 and 16 isolates, respectively. Overall, a total of ninety-six (96) of all samples examined were positive for Salmonella, polling a high prevalence of 19.6%. The considerable risk factors identified in this study were:

• Unhygienic poultry feed processing,
• Farm economic activities coupled with poor biosafety decisions, and
• Attitudes of farm attendants in the farms sampled

As observed in this research, high prevalence has necessitated the imperative need for molecular characterization, and antibiogram analysis of Salmonella isolates from the area studied.