The aim of the study was to isolate
Salmonella
from fresh cabbage and spinach
vegetables, determine antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation of the isolates. Spinach
and cabbage farm vegetables were found to harbour
Salmonella. A total of eighty-two
Salmonella isolates were recovered from both vegetables and subjected to antimicrobial
reactions.
Salmonella isolate showed sensitivity against the aminoglycoside and quinolones.
Isolates from cabbage showed ≥ 80% susceptibility to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin and an
average of 72% susceptibility was exhibited against gentamicin and ofloxacin. Also, isolates
from spinach vegetable demonstrated excellent sensitivity against chloramphenicol (94%),
nalidixic acid (90%) and ofloxacin (82%). Variable resistant patterns was observed for
tetracycline (58%: 47%), ampicillin (55.5%: 31.4%), erythromycin (58.1%: 62.7%),
streptomycin (64.5%: 76.5%), cephalothin (35.5%: 39.2%) against isolates from cabbage and
spinach respectively. The assessment of biofilm formation by
Salmonella on microtitre plate
showed that all
Salmonella isolates were able to form biofilms. Isolates from cabbage were
mainly strong producer 15(48.3%), while 11(35.5%) of the isolates were moderate producers
and 6(16.1%) weak producer. On the other hand, 28(54.9%) of
Salmonella isolates from
spinach vegetable were moderate producer, 12(23.5%) weak producer and 11(21.5%) strong
producer. The finding of this study shows that cabbage and spinach is potential host for the
transmission of
Salmonella to humans or other animals. The ability of the isolates to form
biofilm reveals the potential of the isolates to persist on the vegetable and the pathogenic
status of the isolates as well as ability to resist antimicrobial chemotherapy.