Antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from fresh cow milk in settled Fulani herds in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Three Hundred and Sixty fresh cow milk samples were collected from settled Fulani herds in Kaduna State and examined for S. aureus and their antibiotic resistance. Fifty five samples (15.3%) were positive for S. aureus . The occurrence of S. aureus was statistically significant (P 256 μg for all resistant strains showed no zone of inhibition along the entire length and MIC was read as greater than the highest value on the strip (256). The multiple drug resistance indices revealed that 96.4% of the S. aureus strains were resistant to 3 or more antibiotics tested. The study demonstrated that cow milk in the study areas are contaminated with resistant strains of S. aureus of animal and human biotypes and can serve as means of spread to humans through the consumption of raw milk and milk products. This can be eliminated through improving the general herd hygiene, proper management practices and proper milking hygiene. Keywords: antibiotic resistance, Staphylococcus aureus, cow milk, settled Fulani herds, MIC, Haemolysin, Kaduna State