Dr. Bedaso Mamo, Dr. Ashenafi FeyissaBulako, Chebo2020-06-182023-11-302020-06-182023-11-302014-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/21723The survey was conducted on 133 apparently healthy slaughtered cattle and 202 lactating dairy cattle at selected towns of central Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Adama, Holeta and Asella) from December 2013 to June 2014. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence and distribution of Salmonella in lactating cows and slaughtered cattle, Assess the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella isolates and find out some of the risk factors of milk and carcass contamination. A total of 984 samples from farms and abattoirs consisting of udder milk, tank milk, pooled buckets swab, pooled tank swab, feces from lactating animals, milkers’ hand swab, carcass swab, cecal content from slaughtered animals, mesenteric lymph node, pooled butchers’ hand swab, pooled carcass hanging materials swab and pooled knives swab were collected. The samples were examined for the presence of Salmonella following standard techniques and procedures outlined by the international organization for standardization. In a total of 335 animals examined, 29 (8.7%) were positive of these, 13(9.8%) were slaughtered cattle and 16 (7.92%) were lactating cows. In a total of 984 different samples Salmonella was isolated 66(6.71%). In 545 samples originated from farms Salmonella was isolated in 26(4.77%) of which 4(1.91%) was udder milk, 1(2.94%) tank milk, 1(2.94%) pooled buckets swab, 3(8.82%) pooled tank swab, 16(7.92%) feces from lactating animals and 1(2.94%) milkers’ hand swab. From 439 samples collected from abattoirs Salmonella was isolated in 40(9.11%) of which 13(7.10%) carcass swab, 7(5.34) cecal content from slaughtered animals, 6(12.72%) mesenteric lymph node, 4(15.38%) pooled butchers’ hand swab, 5(23.80%) pooled carcass hanging materials swab and 5(17.85%) pooled buchers’ knives swab. Salmonellae were detected from all test samples obtained from farms and abattoirs. Up on assessment of association of milk contamination with risk factors, carrier animals and Salmonella contaminated tanks were found to be potential risk factors. Up on assessment of carcass contamination with potential risk factors, carcass hoisted on Salmonella positive hanging materials was found to be four times more likely to be contaminated with Salmonella compared to carcass hoisted on Salmonella negative hanging materials. Total 66 isolates obtained from the study were tested for ten different antimicrobials that were commonly used in human as well as 2 animal treatment, and available in the market. 56 (84.8%) were resistant to one or more of the tested antimicrobials. Of the resistant isolates, 87.5% (49 of 56) of them developed resistant to more than one drug.enAbattoirAntimicrobial resistanceCentral EthiopiaFarmThesis