Abstract

A five years retrospective study (2003 - 2007) of the prevalence of fowl typhoid (FT) and other poultry diseases diagnosed at the avian unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Kaduna State, Nigeria was conducted. A prevalence rate of 18.4% (129 cases) was recorded for FT out of 700 cases of poultry disease. The highest number of outbreaks of FT was recorded during the rainy season (July - September). 48 cases (29.1%) of FT were recorded in birds 15 weeks and above, 124 cases (18.4%) in layers and only two cases (16.7%) in turkeys. Outbreaks of FT were closely associated with age, type and poultry species of birds (P < 0.05). The outbreaks of FT were also observed to be 3.1 times more likely to occur in December, 2.4 and 1.3 times more likely to occur in birds of 15 weeks and above and 1 - 5 weeks of age respectively. It was concluded from the study that FT is more commonly reported in the chicken than other poultry species and adult birds (>15 weeks) are more susceptible to the disease in Zaria, Nigeria. This study recommends that poultry farmers should be encouraged to practice prompt and regular vaccination of layers against fowl typhoid disease.

Key words: Salmonella enterica serovars Gallinarium, chicken, Nigeria.