Research in: Agricultural & Veterinary Sciences

Fresh produce such as tomatoes is a major component of the Nigerian diet but can serve as vehicles for food-borne pathogens, particularly when consumed raw. This study aimed to detect and characterize Salmonella spp. from fresh tomatoes sold at four major area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Bwari and to determine their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. A total of 201 tomato samples were processed using standard culture techniques and biochemical identification. Presumptive Salmonella spp. were detected in 24.3% (49/201) of samples, with the highest prevalence recorded in Kwali (30.7%) and the lowest in Bwari (16.0%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing (Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion) revealed high resistance to streptomycin (65.3%) and co-trimoxazole (36.7%), with gentamicin showing the highest susceptibility (98.0%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was common, with multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) values as high as 0.9, indicating a high-risk contamination source. Molecular confirmation using PCR targeting the invA gene did not yield positive results for any isolate. The presence of multidrug-resistant presumptive Salmonella spp. in fresh tomatoes poses a significant public health risk, especially in regions where these products are frequently consumed raw. The study emphasizes the need for improved hygiene practices during cultivation, handling and marketing of fresh produce and calls for public awareness campaigns and policy-driven interventions in food safety and antibiotic stewardship.