Volume 16, Issue 1: 2026 - Article 207

Abstract
The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) poses significant public health risks. This study investigated the occurrence and antibiotic resistance patterns of S. aureus isolated from chicken meat sampled in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. A total of 150 chicken meat samples were collected purposively from different locations in the metropolis, to ensure that various locations were adequately represented.  Bacterial organisms in the meat samples were isolated and identified. Out of the 150 chicken meat samples, 113 (75.3%) tested positive for bacterial contamination. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 54% of the 150 chicken carcasses sampled, followed by Klebsiella spp (8.7%), Enterobacter spp (6.7%), and Proteus spp (6.0%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed high susceptibility to Amoxicillin, Streptomycin, Erythromycin and Chloramphemicol (100%), with resistance observed against Rifampine (20.0%), Norfloxacin (13.3%) and Gentamicin (13.3%). These results highlight the high occurrence of S. aureus in chicken meat in Maiduguri metropolis and the potential health hazards associated with the antibiotic-resistant S. aureus. Enhanced surveillance, strict antibiotic stewardship and improved food safety practices were recommended to reduce chicken meat contamination and the risk of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans.

Keywords: Bacterial contamination; Chicken meat; Staphylococcus aureus; Antibiotic
susceptibility; Maiduguri, Nigeria.

How to cite this article:
Mohammed A, Mohammed S, Lekko YM, Saidu AS and Thliza DA (2026). Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus in chicken meat sampled in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Veterinary
and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1242 – 1248.


*Correspondence: E-mail:     ymlekko@unimaid.edu.ng     Phone: +2347036410350

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in chicken meat sampled in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria
Abdulrahman Mohammed ¹, Sani Mohammed ¹, Yusuf M. Lekko ² *, Adamu S. Saidu ¹ and Dija A. Thliza <sup>3

1</sup> Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
² Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
³ Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

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