Prevalence of Salmonella Species in Locally Fermented Milk (Nono) in Gambari Market, Ilorin East Local Government, Kwara State, Nigeria

Although milk is highly nutritious, it is also an excellent substrate for microorganisms’ growth like Salmonella which is one of the most common causes of foodborne disease worldwide. This research aimed to isolate Salmonella spp. from nono sold in Gambari market, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, test the isolated Salmonella spp. to ten antimicrobial agents and evaluate the risk factors associated with the production and retailing processes of nono in the study area. These were achieved by collecting 113 nono samples and analysing them using conventional isolation methods, confirming the suspected isolates using Microbact GNB 24E. Disc diffusion method for antimicrobial sensitivity test and structured questionnaires were also used. Six (5.3%) Salmonella spp. were isolated. All (100%) the Salmonella isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin and penicillin. Three (50%) of the isolates had resistance breakpoints of 14mm or less to colistin. Five resistance patterns were recorded among the isolates. Eighty percent of the respondents did not wash their hands before milking, while 70% didn't clean the udder before milking. Self-administration of antibiotics to milking cows by 85% of respondents was also recorded. The isolation of Salmonella , including multiple-antimicrobial-resistant species, in nono in the study area could be an indication of contamination.