The study was conducted using cross-sectional design to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella spp. in retail chicken meats collected from selected municipal public markets of Nueva Vizcaya, including Solano, Bayombong Bambang and Bagabag Simple random sampling was used to select a total of 100 chicken meat samples from five randomly selected vendors selling chicken in the selected public markets The samples collected consist of neck, wings, breasts, thigh and drumstick Semi-conventional technique was employed using VIDAS SLM and VITEK 2 system to isolate and identify Salmonella spp. in the chicken meat samples Overall prevalence rate of Salmonella spp was found at 41% (41/100) Bambang public market attained the highest prevalence of contamination rate of 44% (11/25), while the three other markets have the same prevalence rate of 40% (10/25) The chicken part with the highest rate of contamination was observed in the wings having the prevalence rate of 55% (11/20), followed by the neck part at 50% (10/20) The Salmonella spp. isolates were subjected to broth microdilution using VITEK 2 system and Sensititre for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) All the isolates showed resistance to at least one of the antimicrobials tested. Highest percentage resistance was observed to azithromycin (100%). Additionally, isolates show high resistance to streptomycin (95 12%) and gentamicin (51.22%). However, no isolates were found resistant to meropenem. Almost half of the total isolates (20 of 41) (48.78%) are multidrug-resistant (MDR) having resistance to three to seven antimicrobial classes. The results of the present study reveal a high contamination rate of Salmonella spp. in the chicken meats sold in the public markets of Nueva Vizcaya and that public wet markets are likely source of multi-drug-resistant Salmonella spp. that can be potentially transmitted to humans through consumption of these contaminated meats. This study highlights the need to ensure proper handling and storage of meats from slaughter to the market to ensure that levels of contamination are minimized at these points until it reached the consuming public. There is also a need to strengthen the surveillance of antimicrobial usage in farms to ensure that antimicrobials are prudently used in animals.

Thesis (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)

includes appendices and bibliographical references.