Effect of Acacia nilotica extracts against serotypes of Salmonella isolated from poultry farms in Khartoum, Sudan

The fruit of Acacia nilotica L. (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) have been used as traditional medicine and as an antimicrobial agent in many countries around the world notably in Africa and the Indian subcontinent. This study examines antibacterial activity of Acacia nilotica extract in comparison to selected antibiotics against different serotypes of Salmonella isolated from poultry farms in Khartoum state. Three predominant serotypes of Salmonella including S. gombe, S. potsdam and S. bonariensis were isolated and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility pattern against antibiotics commonly used in poultry feed and methanolic extract of A. nilotica fruit by discs diffusion method. A. nilotica showed good antibacterial activity with 24.4 average zone of inhibition while inhibition zones of gentamicin was 13.8 mm; neomycin 14 mm, colistin 11 mm and tetracycline 10 mm. The fruit of A. nilotica is commonly available. Therefore, its addition in chicken ration can be a safe, easy and cost effective method to prevent Salmonella infections in poultry.