Abstract:
Salmonella species are major zoonotic food-borne pathogens which cause outbreaks and sporadic cases of
gastroenteritis in human worldwide. Most Salmonella infections in humans result from the ingestion of contaminated
foods of animal origin, such as poultry, pigs and cattle. An increase of Salmonella strains showing resistance against
different antibiotics has been found in isolates from pigs, poultry, and cattle in recent years. This study aimed to
compare the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from fresh poultry meat. A total number of
sixty fresh chicken meat samples were collected from different locations and isolation was done using conventional
methods according to the Bergy's manual. Susceptibility of these isolates to five different antibiotics (cephalexin
30mcg/disc, triihethoprim 5mcg/disC, ciprofloxacin30mcg/mcg, chloramphenicol 125mcg/disc and cotrimazole
25mcg/disc) were assessed by disc diffusion method measuring the inhibition zone. Out of the total samples, 11.7%
(7) were positive for Salmonella. All the samples (7/7) were resistance to cephalexin and cotrimazole showing lower
inhibition zones than the standards of E.coli 25922 (ATCC), Three out of seven isolates showed resistance for both
trimethoprim and chloramphenicol. Six out of seven isolates were resistant for ciprofloxacin. Multiple drug
resistance was also detected in some isolates. Two isolates exhibited the resistance against all five antibiotics and
other two isolates had resistance against 4 antibiotics used in the antibiogram. Another two isolates showed
resistance to three antibiotics. This study concluded that there is a considerably high prevalence of salmonella in fresh
poultry meat. Development of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella spp. has to be strictly addressed considering its
public health significance.
