Abstract:
One hundred and ninety two raw milk samples were collected from lactating cows identified in Fulani herds and
small scale dairy farms within Sokoto metropolis in order to investigate the
presence and determine the antibiotic
susceptibility of
Listeria monocytogenes
in the milk. Selective culture and identification method was employed for
the bacterial isolation and Kirby
-
Bauer technique was used for the antibiotic susceptibility test. Seventy six
samples
(39.58%) were positive for
Listeria
species, which upon bioche
mical characterization
39(51.3%) were
Listeria innocua
, 14(18.4%)
Listeria ivanovii
, 17(22.4%)
Listeria monocytogenes
, 4(5.3%)
Listeria welshimeri
and
2(2.6%)
Listeria seeligeri.
Antibiotic susceptibility test of the isolates revealed high resistance to am
picillin (100%),
and streptomycin (80%), followed by ampiclox (70%), tetracycline (30%), then gentamycin (20%) while, there was
no resistance to ciprofloxacin and chloranphenicol. The findings of this study necessitate the need for extension
personnel to e
ducate the Fulani herdsmen, milk handlers and other livestock producers on the significance of
hygiene especially during milking and the effect of indiscriminate use of drugs particularly antibiotics. There is also
need for the agencies concerned such as t
he National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control
(NAFDAC) to regulate the sales and use of both human and veterinary drugs by drug hawkers and other non
-
professional veterinary practitioners.
