Abstract
The emergence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in food represents a significant public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries such as Libya. Addressing antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica is essential, particularly where food hygiene and antimicrobial regulations are weak. The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolated from different animal-derived food products collected at retail markets in Libya. In the current study, 18 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolates were obtained from 751 food samples, including milk, dairy products, meat, and meat products, collected randomly from retail markets in Libya. The isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, and their antibiotic resistance profiles were evaluated against 33 antibiotics representing 12 different classes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that all isolates were 100% resistant to penicillin, with high resistance rates to neomycin and rifampicin (94.4%). However, high susceptibility rates were observed for chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, and norfloxacin (88.9%). The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index varied from 0.1 to 0.6, with the maximum MAR value (0.6) recorded in isolates exhibiting resistance to 21 antibiotics. The current findings underscore the necessity to enhance food safety protocols, as multidrug resistance was prevalent among the isolates, particularly to penicillin, neomycin, and rifampicin. Therefore, the utilization of antimicrobial agents in both veterinary and human settings should be strictly regulated to control the emerging threat of multidrug-resistant strains. Additionally, the present results suggested that fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins remain among the most effective antimicrobial agents and may be considered for the treatment of salmonellosis. The detection of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in animal-derived foods in Libya represented a significant public health concern, underscoring the critical need for enhanced surveillance, stricter antimicrobial use regulations, and improved food safety measures.