Characterization of non-typhoidal Salmonella from poultry in Punjab, India

Abstract

Present study was done to determine the prevalence, virulence and antimicrobial spectrum of identified serotypes. A total of 693 samples, comprising 585 poultry fecal samples (420 from layer, 120 from broiler and 45 from backyard poultry), 54 each poultry feed and farm water were collected from 31 poultry farms of three districts of Punjab. A total of 6 Salmonella isolates were obtained from these samples. Out of 585 fecal samples, 6 (1.02%) were positive for Salmonella. Out of 31 farms, 2 (6.45%) farms were positive for Salmonella. Out of 6 Salmonella isolates, four isolates from one farm were serotype Salmonella IIIa, 35: z24: z23 and two Salmonella isolates from another farm were untypable and also carried spvC gene. Isolates showed resistance to gentamicin (2/6, 33.3%), co-trimoxazole (1/6, 16.7%). Antibiotics ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and enrofloxacin were effective against all the isolates. On PFGE analysis, four isolates from one farm were clustered in two clusters and two isolates from other farm were similar and clustered together. Based on the results we can say that drug resistant Salmonella is present in poultry flock in Punjab.

Keywords

• Antimicrobial susceptibility
• PCR
• PFGE
• Poultry
• Salmonella