The first attempt of an active integrated laboratory‐based S almonella surveillance programme in the north‐eastern region of N igeria

Aim To identify the sources of S almonella contamination, distribution, prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, which have significant impact on public and animal health, and international trade. Methods and Results A total of 1888 samples were collected by stratified random sampling from 2009 to 2011 from cattle, camels, poultry, fish, vegetables and humans. All identified S almonella isolates were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by MIC determinations. A total of 149 S almonella isolates comprising 17 different serovars were obtained (7·9% prevalence). S almonella H adar (37%), S .  E ko (17%), S .  E nteritidis (10%), S .  K entucky (7%) and S .  U ganda (7%) were isolated from different sources. The occurrence of antimicrobial resistance was generally low, but S .  E nteritidis and S .  E ko showed variable antimicrobial resistance patterns, while all S .  K entucky isolates were resistant to seven of 17 tested antimicrobials, including ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. Three S .  H adar isolates revealed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and susceptibility to nalidixic acid and harboured the plasmid‐mediated quinolone resistance gene qnr S 1 . Conclusions Salmonella serovars H adar, E nteritidis and the previously very rarely reported E ko were the major serovars associated with human infections, animal and environmental contamination in the north‐eastern region of N igeria. Significance and Impact of the Study These serovars constitute a health risk to poultry, environment and human population in the region.