Survey Of Salmonella Species Among Poultry Birds In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture Farm.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella species among poultry birds in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture(MOUA) Farm. Thirty (30)cloacal swab samples were collected as well as ten (10) environmental swab samples from different poultry houses. Thirty (31) representing 77.5% of the samples produced growth of Salmonella species while the rest nine (9) representing 22.5% showed no growth. Twenty one (21) cloacal swabs representing 70% were positive and all of the ten (10) environmental swabs representing 100% yielded bacterial growth .The antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed that a total of 3 1(100%) isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin and none to tetracycline .These results showed a high level of prevalence of Salmonella species in the MOUA poultry farm and suggest the need to institute Salmonella control in the farm.