The threat of salmonellosis to commercial poultry production in Adamawa state, Nigeria

A three year (January 2007 – August 2009) retrospective study of the post mortem records of the Zonal Investigation Laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Yola was carried out. Of the 196 post-mortem poultry cases diagnosed, 80 (40.8%) were Salmonellosis, 39(19.9%) were Coccidiosis, 27(13.8%) were Gumboro, 18 (9.2%) and 9 (4.6%) were New Castle Disease and Ruptured Egg Yolk respectively, while 7 (3.6%) were Avian Influenza and 5 (2.5%) were Helminthosis. The least occurring disorders included Ectoparasitism, Nutritional disorders, Cage paralysis, indigestion, Fowl pox and Suspected duck plaque constituting 11 (5.6%) of the cases. Fifty two (65%) of Salmonellosis cases were in young chickens less than 7 weeks of age. Most of the Salmonella cases occurred concurrently with Gumboro, Coccidiosis and to some extent Ruptured egg yolk in the older birds. There was annual increase of Salmonellosis from as low as 14 cases in 2007 to 38 cases in 2009. Salmonellosis appeared to be a threat to commercial poultry production in Adamawa State and indeed Nigeria in General. Salmonella spp. infection from the hatchery is highly associated with the result obtained. Stringent measures to cleanse the hatchery management in Nigeria by relevant authority are highly recommended.