Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus from dogs, pigs and their handlers in Zaria and Kaduna, Metropolis, Kaduna State

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a critically important human pathogen that is also an emerging concern in veterinary medicine and animal agriculture. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus from dogs, pigs, and their handlers in Zaria and Kaduna, Metropolis, Kaduna State. Methods: A total of three (300) samples were obtained from the Skin, anus, and anterior nare of pigs, dogs, and hand swabs of their handlers in three (3) Communities; Buwaya, Gonin-Gora, Maraban Rido, all in Kaduna and Samaru, Zaria in Kaduna state. S. aureus was isolated and characterized using standard microbiological protocols. Results: The results revealed that one Hundred and Sixty-five (165) of the samples isolated were Staphylococcus after the samples were cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA). Ninety-five (95) were confirmed to be Staphylococcus species after the Coagulase test was carried out. Further identification of the Ninety-five (95) isolates using the Microgen Staph-ID kit results revealed that 46(48.4%) of the isolates were S. aureus, 49 (51.5%) other species of Staphylococcus that were coagulase-positive but not S. aureus, like S. Intermedius 6(6.3 %,) S. hyicus 4(4.2%). The coagulase-negative isolates consists of S.xylosus 27 (28.4%), S.chromogenes 8 (8.4 %), S. hominis 4(4.2%). Conclusion: the results of the present study calls for public health concern because of the health risk associated with colonization of individuals with Staphylococcus aureus.