SEROTYPING AND DRUG SENSITIVITY OF PREVAILING SALMONELLA SPECIES IN SELECTED POPULATIONS OF KARACHI CONTRACTED THROUGH POULTRY

Total number of human stool/blood specimens tested was 753 and poultry specimens were 760. All Salmonella species were isolated from 68 specimens of human and 19 specimens of poultry respectively. Out of those host-specific Salmonella spp. From humas (S. typhi, S. paratyphi A, B and C) were isolated from 63 specimens and host-specific non-motile Salmonella spp. (S. gallinarum) was isolated from 12 specimens of poultry. Non-host-specific Salmonella spp. Were isolated from 5 specimens of human samples and 7 specimens of poultry respectively. These non-host-specific Salmonella spp. Are causing Salmonellosis (gastroenteritis/food poisoning) in human beings and can be contracted through animals or poultry and also from man to man. Ratio of the host-specific and non-host-specific Salmonella spp. In human and poultry specimens was 93:7 and 63:37 respectively\ud \ud Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella virchow and Salmonella Kentucky were isolated from stool/blood specimens of under 5 year children. Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella virchow, Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella senftenberg were isolated from liver samples/egg yolks of poultry\ud \ud Drug sensitivity of all Salmonella paratyphoid organisms was done against Amoxycillin, Cephradine, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, Chloramphenicol, Furazolidone, Trimethoprim + Sulphamethoxazole, Flumequine and Oxolinic acid. Most of the Salmonella cultures were found sensitive to Cephradine, Gentamicin, Flumequine and Oxolinic acid, while most of the cultures were found resistant to Trimethoprim-Sulphamethoxazole and Tetracycline. Chloramphenicol and Furazolidone resistant strains were also found. Commonly used drugs in humans as well as in poultry were found ineffective during this study hence use of the drug sensitivity test becomes essential due to these unusual results\ud \ud Incidence of Salmonellosis is lower in this country as compared to western countries and USA due to lower consumption of poultry and poultry products/person/year. Eating habits are much different and there is almot no use of helf-cooked or raw foods in this part of the world, while in western countries, consumption of raw eggs in salads and use a major source of spread of Salmonella spp. Which is also used frequently in those countries? Processing of poultry meat is also another source of transmission of Salmonella organisms from poultry to human population. At present there is no processing of poultry meat and eggs in this country\ud \ud It is recommended to produce Salmonella-free poultry by using pelleted feed and treatment of the infected flocks properly. Improvement of farm hygiene can help reduce spread of Salmonella spp. Education of persons in business of poultry and poultry products to adopt sanitary measures in food handling places. Domestic consumers are advised to consume freshly well-cooked foods. Such measures can play an important role in the control of Salmonellosi