Isolation of MDR-Salmonella enterica from RTE Rectum (Abodi) and Small Intestine (Round-about) Offal from Restaurants in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

Salmonella belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium. It commonly causes foodborne illnesses and can be transmitted through the consumption of undercooked or contaminated items, including ready-to-eat offal. This research aimed to isolate Salmonella enterica from ready-to-eat rectum (abodi) and small-intestine (roundabout) meat, sold in restaurants/canteens within Ilorin metropolis in Kwara State, Nigeria, and to determine the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) status and AMR patterns of isolated Salmonella species. To achieve this, a total of 112 ready-to-eat rectum (abodi) and 108 small-intestine (roundabout) samples were collected and analysed using conventional isolation methods and PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were carried out on the isolate using the disc diffusion method. One (0.9%) and zero (0%) Salmonella enterica were isolated from the collected samples. The Salmonella isolate was resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. The isolate was sensitive to gentamicin, ofloxacin, chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole. Salmonella spp. pose a significant risk to both animal and human health, especially through the consumption of contaminated food products, which may result in diseases such as gastroenteritis, typhoid fever or septicaemia. There is a need for public education on the proper handling of meat products, which can serve as potential vehicles for Salmonella infections. Concerned government agencies should closely monitor the hygiene and sanitation practices in restaurants in the study area to mitigate risks associated with Salmonella contamination.