Prevalence and Antibiograms of Salmonellae in Slaughter Cattle, Slaughter Areas and Effluents in Zaria Abattoir, Nigeria

Abstract

Mesenteric lymph nodes of slaughter cattle, swabs of slaughter and dressing areas and effluents of Zaria abattoir were cultured for salmonellae. Of a total of 510 samples cultured, 23 (5%) were positive for Salmonella. Five (4%) of 118 bovine lymph nodes contained salmonellae whereas sites swabbed during dressing had a frequency of isolation of 7% (11 of 150) and only 4 (3% of 150 samples) were positive after cleaning of dressing areas. Three (3%) of 92 effluent samples contained salmonellae. Thirteen of the 23 isolates of Salmonella were of different serotypes. The predominant serotypes were S. dublin (4 isolates), S. widemarsh (4 isolates) and S. Handoff (3 isolates). Twenty (87%), 8 (35%) and 8 (35%) isolates were resistant to streptomycin, neomycin and tetracycline respectively, while 6 (26%), 5 (22%) and 3(13%) isolates were not susceptible to gentamicin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol respectively. Overall, 15 resistance patterns were observed. The widespread occurrence of salmonellae in Zaria abattoir coupled with the high incidence of resistance to antimicrobial agents are of public health significance from the viewpoint of food hygiene and therapy for salmonellosis.