title: A survey of salmonellae in trade cattle slaughtered at Nsukka abattoir.
abstract: A survey was carried out to determine the occurrence and carrier rate of Salmonella in trade cattle slaughtered for human consumption at Nsukka abattoir in Anambra State. Two hundred Zebu cattle were screened. A total of 424 specimens comprising of gall bladders, messenteric lymph nodes and rectal faeces were subjected to enterobacteriological studies. Identification of isolants was based on biochemical reactions and the use of polyvalent and group-specific antisera. Two Salmonella serotypes made up of Sal. typhimurium (3 strains) and Sal. dublin (5 strains) were obtained from 6 of the 200 cattle. A carrier rate of 3% was recorded. Two animals were carriers of Sal. typhimurium, while 4 cattle harboured Sal. dublin. Two strains of Sal. typhimurium and 3 of Sal. dublin were isolated from the gall bladder. The public health significance of the occurrence of anthropozoonotic Salmonellae in food animals as well as the hazard of consumption of bile are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008643:Mesentery; D009549:Nigeria; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification