COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SALMONELLA SHIGELLA AGAR AND MACCONKEY AGAR NO.3 FOR PRELIMINARY IDENTIFICATION OF SALMONELLA SPECIES

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA) and MacConkey Agar No.3 (MCA3) for culture of Salmonella isolate. Fifteen (15) generally pooled isolates were cultured on Salmonella-shigella Agar and MacConkey Agar No.3 respectively. The cultural and morphological characteristics of the isolates were evaluated using standard methods. The biochemical characterization of the isolates was carried out after culture using and selective differential media and special reagents. The result revealed that 14 of the isolates cultured on each of the cultures identified as Salmonella were actually Proteus sp. The efficiency of Salmonella Shigella Agar and MacConkey Agar No.3 with respect to proper identification of salmonella was 6.67%. The result further revealed that usage of selective media should be accompanied by using other biochemical characterization because some isolates have the capacity to mimick the growth of salmonella.