Assessing the mechanisms of multi-drug resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovars isolated from layer chicken farms in Nigeria.

Background: In Nigeria, there have been reports of widespread multiple antimicrobial resistance (AMR) amongst Salmonella isolated from poultry. To mitigate the impact of mortality associated with Salmonella on their farms, farmers resort to the use of antimicrobials without sound diagnostic advice. We conducted this study to describe the AMR patterns, mechanisms and genetic similarities within some Salmonella serovars isolated from different layer farms.

Determination of antimicrobial use in commercial poultry farms in Plateau and Oyo States, Nigeria.

Background: Indiscriminate use of antimicrobials for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infection in animals is a common practice in Nigeria as in other developing countries. These antimicrobials are purchased over the counter without restrictions and often administered in form of medicated feedstuffs. In Nigeria, like most developing countries, antimicrobial prescription data are not routinely collected or reported at the farm level, instead import data are used in reporting antimicrobial consumption.

Perceptions and practices of farmers of indigenous poultry towards infections in North-Central Nigeria.

Background: infections continue to be of global concern to poultry health, productivity, and public health. About 44% of the poultry in Nigeria are indigenous and kept in close interaction with farmers who are mostly rural dwellers and have limited access to veterinary and extension services.

Aim: The perceptions and practices of farmers of indigenous poultry toward infections were assessed to obtain and document baseline data that can be used to create awareness among farmers about these infections and their attendant public health implications.

Investigation of potential risk factors associated with Salmonella presence in commercial laying hen farms in Nigeria.

Background: In 2012/13, the Federal government of Nigeria approved the surveillance of salmonellae in commercial poultry farms with the aim of generating baseline data for the development of a control programme. That baseline provided an opportunity to investigate potential risk factors in commercial layer farms.

Methods: Five hundred and twenty-three farms were evaluated for the presence of Salmonella.

Motile Salmonella serotypes causing high mortality in poultry farms in three South-Western States of Nigeria.

This study was carried out to identify the serotypes causing high mortality in chickens in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, Nigeria. Chickens presented for postmortem examination during disease outbreaks that were characterised by high mortality (40 per cent to 80 per cent) in poultry farms in the study area were examined from January to December, 2013. Samples of the lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, proventriculus, intestine and caecum were collected from suspected cases of salmonellosis, for bacterial culture and identification.

Salmonella serovars and their distribution in Nigerian commercial chicken layer farms.

Commercial poultry farms (n° 523), located in all the six regions of Nigeria were sampled with a view to generate baseline information about the distribution of Salmonella serovars in this country. Five different matrices (litter, dust, faeces, feed and water) were collected from each visited farm. Salmonella was isolated from at least one of the five matrices in 228 farms, with a farm prevalence of 43.