Phenotypic Characterization of Sulrnunellu Typhimurium Isolates from Food-Animals and Abattoir Drains in Buea, Cameroon

Salmonella spp. have been extensively incriminated worldwide as common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans, with food-animals serving as important reservoirs. The study was aimed at investigating cattle & pigs slaughtered in Buea as reservoirs of Salmonella Typhimurium & the susceptibility of isolates to antibiotics. In total, 230 specimens (comprising 50 each from the rectum, ileum, & gall bladder of cattle; & 10 each from same anatomical sites of pigs & 50 from abattoir drains) were analyzed for Salmonella using the standard microbiological, biochemical & serological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion test. The isolates were characterized into biotypes using the API 20E kit, & results were analyzed using the chi-square test. Seventy-five (32.6%) of the 230 specimens were positive for S. Typhimurium, with pigs & abattoir drains presenting the highest level of isolation (40%). Biochemical typing grouped the isolates into five biotypes. Biotype I was the most prevalent (30.6%) while biotype IV was the least prevalent (9.3%) & was absent in samples from pigs. Antibiotic susceptibility studies revealed 14 antibiotypes based on antibiotics used in the study. The predominant antibiotype AMXR DOXRCEFR was recorded in 13 (17.3%) of the isolates. Multidrug resistance (to four or more antibiotics) was recorded in 50.7% (38/75) of the isolates. The most active drugs were ciprofloxacin (98.6%), ofloxacin (93.3%), amikacin (90.6%), & gentamicin (84%). All the isolates (100%) were resistant to tetracycline & ampicillin. Cattle & pigs were found to be reservoirs of S. Typhimurium in the environment of Buea, Cameroon, implying that foods from these sources, if not properly handled, could serve as vehicles for its transmission to humans. Adapted from the source document.