Rejoice Ekli

Affiliated project : ACEMFS

CEA affiliates: West African Infectious Diseases Network WANIDA

Thesis supervisor: Dr. Bala Jeremiah David, ACEMFS
bala.jeremiah@futminna.edu.ng or jd.bala@futminna.edu.ng

Thesis co-supervisor: Salamatu MACHUNGA-MAMBULA
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Abuja, Nigeria
salamatu.machungam@futminna.edu.ng or ssmambula@hotmail.com

Other contributors to thesis supervision: Frederick ADZITEY
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
adzitey@yahoo.co.uk

Start date: January 2021
Anticipated date of thesis defense: January 15, 2024
ORCID profile: 0009-0002-6501-297X

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Project title: Prevalence, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella species in ready-to-eat meat sold in selected regions of Nigeria and Ghana

Summary of scientific project: 

This study investigates the prevalence, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance profiles of Salmonella species in ready-to-eat meat sold in selected regions of Nigeria and Ghana. The research aims to determine the extent of Salmonella contamination, identify the specific strains present and assess their resistance to various antibiotics. The main objectives are to provide information on the public health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated meat, to understand the genetic composition of Salmonella strains, and to develop strategies to mitigate antibiotic resistance in these regions. This research addresses a major food safety and public health challenge by focusing on a common foodborne pathogen in a major food source.

Summary of results:

All the ready-to-eat meat sellers in the Accra metropolis were men; 84% of them were of working age. The majority were Muslim, had no formal education, had more than one year's experience, bought meat from abattoirs, had no vocational training and did not undergo a medical examination.
Most of those interviewed recognized the importance of covering their hair and washing their hands, knew about aprons, but did not like wearing gloves and handled money and meat with the same hand without disinfecting them.
Most thawed frozen meat in direct sunlight without covering it, sold it on open tables, sold it near or over open drains, but few covered their hair or wore gloves, and none used food thermometers or sanitized knives.
The total number of bacteria was high in the Maamobi market, while the prevalence of Salmonella enterica was 1.94%, with a few isolates.