A Survey of Salmonella Species and their Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile from Selected Wells in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 1.1 billion people globally lack basic access to drinking water resources, while 2.4 billion have inadequate sanitation facilities which accounts for many water-related acute and chronic diseases. The study was designed to search for the presence of Salmonella spp. from wells in Dan-musa, Mani, and Danja Local Government Areas of Katsina State. The distances of wells to pit latrines were measured at collection points. The organisms were detected and isolated by cultural methods using selective media and were subjected to a series of biochemical tests. They were sero-grouped using seroquick grouping reagents. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method. All the distances measured were below the set standard of 30 meters by WHO and the Nigerian Environmental Protection Agency. Dan-musa Local Government Area had the highest mean coliform counts of 20.7cfu/ml, while Danja had the least counts of 13.8cfu/ml. Out of the 300 well water samples collected, a total of 11 Salmonella strains were isolated belonging to three (3) different sero-groups (Group D, A, and B). Significant statistical association (p<0.05) was found between the occurrence of these bacterial isolates and the distance of wells to pit latrines. All the isolates were resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics, with the highest resistance to ceftazidime and cefuroxime, 100% each. However, the isolates were also sensitive to fluoroquinolones, chloramphenicol, and cefoxitin. The presence of these pathogenic bacteria from the well water samples analyzed connotes a serious health risk to consumers due to the threat of disease and antibiotic resistance. The study accentuates the need to set standards for siting wells away from pit latrines, provision of adequate potable water, and improved sanitation.