Detection of invA Gene in Salmonella Limete Isolated from Wastewater Treatment Plant of University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria

Salmonellae are ubiquitous microorganisms that infect both humans and animals. Human infections usually occur through contaminated food or water and can result in one of two major diseases, namely gastroenteritis and enteric fever. Hence, Salmonella remains a major public health problem especially in developing countries where the level of hygiene is very low. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential risk of Salmonella serovars isolated from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) wastewater treatment plants. Three Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Limete isolates from the UNN waste treatment plants were investigated for the presence of invasive A (invA) gene. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from the isolates by boiling method. Extracted bacteria DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using invA specific primers. PCR products were resolved on 1.5% agarose gel stained with 0.5 μg/ml of ethidium bromide. Results showed the presence of a band size of 244 base pair of Salmonella invA gene in 2 of the isolates. This is an indication that the isolates may have a human or animal origin and are potentially pathogenic. Therefore, the treatment of water in the wastewater plant is insufficient and water from the plant should not be employed for human use or used with caution