6 Continental J. Microbiology 5 (1): 6 - 11, 2011 ISSN: 2141 – 4106 © Wilolud Journals, 2011 http://www.wiloludjournal.com ` Printed in Nigeria PREVALENCE OF Salmonella spp IN SOME ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES FROM SOME HOUSEHOLDS ENGAGED IN LIVESTOCK FARMING IN SOME PARTS OF ZARIA, NIGERIA. Abakpa, G.O 1 ., Umoh, V.J 2 . and Ameh, J.B 3 . Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state. ABSTRACT Salmonella outbreaks from contaminated water and non animal foods (e.g. produce) are increasingly reported. To address the environment as a potential source of pathogenic Salmonella, the prevalence of Salmonella in households engaged in livestock farming in Zaria, Kaduna State (Nigeria) was investigated. A total of 336 environmental samples comprising water, soil, manure and vegetable samples were collected from thirty households with livestock while three households without livestock were used as control. Sampling was done from March to September 2006 covering both wet and dry seasons. Seven Salmonella spp were obtained: 1(0.65%) during the dry season and 6(3.28%) during the wet season. Salmonella spp were detected from manure, water and vegetable samples. A prevalence rate of 2.08% was obtained for Salmonella spp in the study location. The rate of detection was higher in the wet season than in the dry season. The detection of this pathogen from the environment represents a potential health risk factor since man is always in continuous interaction with the environment. Keywords; Prevalence, Salmonella, Environment, livestock. INTRODUCTION The potential contamination due to animal husbandry operations and the indiscriminate disposal of animal wastes and effluents from livestock applied as fertilizer for crop or silage production constitute an environmental and public health risk (Yang et al., 2004). Adding manure to the soil has agronomic benefits through the addition of plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and organic matter (Gagliardi and Karns, 2002). . Despite the benefits from the use of organic manure, there is a potential health risk from manure into the food chain as a means of pathogen transfer. Nicholson et al., (2000) in the review of issue of pathogens transfer into the food chain from manure applications to land, states that there is a lack of data on 'typical' levels of pathogen in animal manures. The actual number of pathogens shed is important and this has been found to be affected by a number of factors such as animal age, diet, stress and season (Nicholson et al., 2000). The probability of pathogens being available for transport at the soil surface is also likely to be influenced significantly by the duration and conditions of storage prior to land spreading. Contaminated manure can contaminate the produce directly through its use as a soil fertilizer or indirectly through infiltration of irrigation water or water used to wash the produce (Doyle, 2000). Sources of microbial pathogens on fresh produce at the preharvest stage include faeces, irrigation water, inadequately composted manure, soil, air, animals and human handling (Buck et al., 2003). Salmonellosis is a disease caused by members of the genus Salmonella (Nietfeld and Kennedy, 1999). It is an important cause of diarrheal illness in humans, causing approximately 1.4 million illness and 600 deaths annually in the United States (Brenner et al., 2000). Much of what is known about the epidemiology of samonellosis comes from outbreak investigations. These investigations have determined that most human infections result from the ingestion of foods of animal origin that are contaminated with Salmonella species(Mead et al.,1999) being Salmonella of animal origin causes an intestinal infection, characterized by sudden onset of fever, myalgia, cephalagia, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. There is increased risk of exposure among those who work in abattoirs, poultry processing plants and those in contact with animal and their products.