Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles, and Virulence Genes of Salmonella Species Isolated from Commercial Broiler Farms in Southern Ghana

African Journal of Agriculture | Vol. 13, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 114–121

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000748

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles, and Virulence Genes of Salmonella Species Isolated from Commercial Broiler Farms in Southern Ghana

Names of Authors: Ebenezer K. Appiah¹, Sylvia A. Takyi¹, Richmond O. Boateng²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; ²Veterinary Services Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana

Abstract: The intensive use of non-therapeutic antibiotics in commercial poultry setups across sub-Saharan Africa accelerates the rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) zoonotic pathogens. This study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and key virulence genes of Salmonella species contaminating commercial poultry farms in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana. A total of 320 samples, including cloacal swabs, boot swabs, and litter samples, were gathered from 40 operational broiler farms. Pathogens were isolated via standard culture methods, and confirmed using PCR assays targeting the invA gene. Susceptibility testing across 12 commercial antibiotics was run using the disk diffusion method. The overall Salmonella isolation rate stood at 22.8% (73/320), with litter samples displaying the highest contamination. Molecular testing verified that 100% of the isolates carried the invA virulence gene, while 64.3% contained the stn enterotoxin gene. High resistance levels were observed against Ampicillin (88.4%), Tetracycline (82.1%), and Ciprofloxacin (54.6%). Alarmingly, 58.9% of the confirmed isolates displayed an MDR profile, resisting three or more distinct chemical classes. These findings reveal an elevated prevalence of pathogenic, drug-resistant Salmonella strains in Ghana’s poultry hubs, highlighting the urgent need for stringent biosecurity guidelines and enforced antimicrobial stewardship.

Keywords: Salmonella enterica, Antimicrobial resistance, Broiler poultry, Virulence genes, Zoonosis, Public health

Manuscript Timeline: Received: May 28, 2026; Revised: July 02, 2026; Accepted: July 28, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026

Citation: Appiah, E. K., Takyi, S. A., & Boateng, R. O. (2026). Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles, and Virulence Genes of Salmonella Species Isolated from Commercial Broiler Farms in Southern Ghana. African Journal of Agriculture, 13(8), 114–121. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000748

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