PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA ENTERICA AND VIBRIO CHOLERAE IN DIARRHOEIC STOOL SAMPLES OF PATIENTS ATTENDING GENERAL HOSPITAL, MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of Salmonella enterica and Vibrio cholerae among 246 diarrhoeic patients from General Hospital Minna, Niger State. Stool samples, as well as socioeconomic and demographic data, were collected from the patients. The stool samples were inoculated onto Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile Salt-Sucrose (TCBS) agar and Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA) and incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24 hours. Distinct colonies suspected to be Salmonella and Vibrio were sub-cultured and identified based on colony morphology, biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Data were analysed using Chi-square tests. The results revealed a prevalence of 6.10% for S. enterica and 0.81% for V. cholerae. Chi-square analysis showed that socio-demographic factors such as gender (χ² = 4.163, p = 0.041), age (χ² = 106.829, p < 0.001), education level (χ² = 180.373, p < 0.001), employment status (χ² = 27.333, p < 0.001), income (χ² = 215.203, p < 0.001), household size (χ² = 116.398, p < 0.001), water source (χ² = 120.138, p < 0.001), water storage method (χ² = 8.805, p = 0.012), and type of toilet facility (χ² = 264.667, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the prevalence of Salmonella and Vibrio in the study population. These findings highlight the importance of improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene education, alongside implementing targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, to reduce the burden of S. enterica and V. cholerae in the community.