DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i04.004

Pages: 146-154

A Cross sectional study was carried out in Wau municipality Western Bahr El- Ghazal State, South Sudan, to assess the magnitude of Salmonella contamination in indigenous chicken and chicken keepers. The fecal samples were randomly collected from 145 chicken keepers and 198 chicken cloacal swabs from randomly selected household levels. The samples were transported on ice packs, to Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University-Uganda for analysis. The samples were cultured on XLD agar for isolation of salmonella which was confirmed on a series of biochemical tests. Using SPSS-18 software, sample check list and laboratory results were analyzed using descriptive statistics to obtain frequencies and prevalence. Of the 198 chicken samples analyzed, 67.2% were from hens and 32.8% from cocks. Only 14 (9.7%) and 12(6.1%) samples were positive for Salmonella from chicken keepers and chicken samples, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was done using the Stander Kerby Bauer disc diffusion assay in which isolates were categorized as sensitive, moderately resistant or resistant based on standardized zones of inhibition. All the isolates from chicken keepers and chicken samples were sensitive to Chloramphenicol (30μg) but resistant to Colistin (10μg). Chicken keepers isolates 28.6% (n=14) were resistant to Nalidixic acid (30μg), Ampicillin (10μg) 14.3% and Tetracycline (30μg) while 33.3% and 25% (n=12) of chicken isolates were resistant to Tetracycline (30μg) and Nalidixic acid (30μg). The prevalence of Salmonella was heightened among chicken keepers who had primary level of education and those aged 19-35 years while keeping chicken, housing them with dogs and cats, addition of tetracycline feed additives in addition to chicken age group of 6 months and above increased their risk of salmonellosis infection. This study showed that there is a need to separate chicken housing from hu