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

Idowu Oluwabunmi Fagbamila; Marzia Mancin; Lisa Barco; Sati Samuel Ngulukun; Alexander Jambalang; Olawunmi Toyin Ajayi; Nancy Sati; Paulinus Emennaa; Paul Idoko Ankeli; Jakob Kwaga; Paul Ayuba Abdu; Junaidu Kabir; Jarlath Umoh; Antonia Ricci; Maryam Muhammad

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.02.001

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

Prev Vet Med. 2018 Apr 1:152:40-47. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.02.001. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Bacterial Research Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
² OIE and Italian National Reference Laboratory for Salmonella, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Università 12, Padova, Italy.
³ OIE and Italian National Reference Laboratory for Salmonella, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Università 12, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: lbarco@izsvenezie.it.
⁴ Poultry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
⁵ Bacterial Vaccine Production Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
⁶ Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

PMID: 29559104
DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.02.001

Abstract

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. Each farmer was interviewed through a structured questionnaire. Univariate analysis identified 26 variables potentially associated with Salmonella presence on the farms, with different levels of significance. To simultaneously evaluate the effect of these variables, a multivariable logistic regression model was implemented.

Results: Farmers that are member of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) emerged as a risk factor, as well as being farmer as exclusive occupation. The risk of Salmonella increased in farms with a combined housing system as compared to farms with a single housing system. Moreover, in terms of farm management the use of plastic egg crates had a higher risk of Salmonella presence compared to paper crates. Higher risk of contamination was also identified in farms having regular contact with animal health workers, since this could be indicative of animal health problems requiring continuous assistance. Farms with no previous outbreak of salmonellosis were associated with an increase risk, since most of the farms in this category were newly established. With regard to feeding, the use of coccidiostats and commercial feeds were associated with the spread of Salmonella. Unexpectedly, the presence of other farms at distances further than 1 km away was associated with an increase in Salmonella presence as compared to farms which were in closer proximity. Close proximity among farms could favour the application of stricter biosecurity measures.

Conclusions: The results of the survey can be considered a baseline for implementing effective measures aimed at reducing the Salmonella prevalence in Nigerian laying hen farms.

Keywords: Chicken; Laying hen; Risk factor; Salmonella.

MeSH terms

Animal Husbandry / methods*
Animals
Chickens*
Female
Housing, Animal*
Logistic Models
Nigeria / epidemiology
Poultry Diseases / epidemiology*
Poultry Diseases / microbiology
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Salmonella / physiology*
Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology*
Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology