Salmonellosis is a major threat facing the poultry industry globally. This study was conducted to investigate the level of
Salmonella
contaminations and determine the resistance pattern of isolates obtained from selected poultry farms in Kwara State, a transition state between southern and northern regions of Nigeria. A total of 900 samples were collected between January and August 2017, from the poultry environment, apparently including healthy and dead birds.
Salmonella
was isolated and identified using standard bacteriological methods. All presumptive
Salmonella
isolates were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using 11 different antimicrobials. A total of 58 (6.4%)
Salmonella
isolates were obtained, and the isolation rate was only statistically significant (
p
< 0.05) in live birds. The isolates comprised of 13 serovars. The three predominant serovars,
Salmonella enterica
ser. 6.7:d:- (29.0%),
Salmonella
Agama (28.0%) and
Salmonella
Typhimurium (16.0%), were isolated from all three sample types. Rare serovars like
Salmonella
Albany,
Salmonella
Colindale,
Salmonella
Istanbul,
Salmonella
Larochelle,
Salmonella
Nigeria and
Salmonella
Orion were also isolated in this study. A high frequency of resistance was generally observed with all the isolates exhibiting a total of (100%) resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftazidime. This study documents the first predominant isolation of
S. enterica
ser. 6.7:d:- and
S.
Agama from chickens. It also documents the high frequency of fluoroquinolone and cephalosporins resistance of the isolates indicating the presence of selective pressure in the environment. Controls and targeted interventions against
Salmonella
and the frequent occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in chickens should be initiated to prevent the spread of this organism.