Salmonella transmission in poultry farms: The roles of rodents, lizards and formites

Abstract

<jats:p>Introduction: Salmonellosis constitutes a major threat to poultry industry in Nigeria. The study investigated the roles of rodents, lizards and fomites in the transmission of Salmonella in poultry farms.
Methods: A total of 320 samples consisting of litter (n = 70), feed (n = 50), water from drinkers (n = 50), cloacal swabs from chicken (n = 50), faeces from rodents (n = 50) and faeces from lizards (n = 50), were collected from selected poultry farms in Maiduguri, Borno State between March and August, 2011. The samples were subjected to standard bacteriological analyses and presumptive Salmonella isolates were serotyped using slide agglutination technique.
Results: A total of 31 (9.7%) Salmonella isolates comprising 7 serovars were obtained. Salmonella serovars Kentucky and Enteritidis were the major serovars recovered from all sample sources and these represent 3.4 % (n= 11) and 3.1 % (n= 10) respectively. These serovars were the predominant in rodents and lizards and were equally isolated from chicken and other samples, however, Salmonella Hadar was only isolated from litters, but not from chicken or other environmental samples (feed or water).
Significance: It was concluded that rodents and lizards play significant roles in poultry Salmonella infection via environmental contamination. Farmers should focus more attention on these agents of Salmonella carriage in the poultry environment.</jats:p>