Mountain Top University Library

Game meat is an important source of nourishment for many populations in low-medium-income countries (LMICs), most importantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This meat is sourced from wild animals hunted in unregulated conditions, transported to distant markets using minimal or no hygienic measures, and frequently eviscerated 24 hours after death. Given the potential significance of animals as a reservoir for bacterial zoonotic diseases, game meat could pose a significant public health risk in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of Shigella spp in game meat samples (pangolin, deer, frog, porcupine, bush pig, buffalo, bush dog, grass cutter, gazelle, alligator, monitor lizard, monkey, squirrel, bush rat, jackal and duck) collected from various cities in Nigeria. A total of 22 game meat were sampled. Shigella spps were isolated from the game meats using a selected media and pre-enrichment techniques. The identification of Shigella was carried out using colony characteristics, the Gram reaction and biochemical tests. Single and multidrug susceptibility testing was performed on selected Kirk- Bauer disc diffusion technique, Shigella spp was detected in all of the game meat tested. Similarly, the selected isolates demonstrated resistance to at least three or more of the twelve antibiotics tested for multidrug resistance while some showed resistance to single drug resistant testing. Single-drug resistance was observed in amikacin, erythromycin (100%) and tetracycline (40%). Multidrug resistance to cefoperazone (20%), vancomycin (20%), meropenem (40%), and cefuroxime (60%) was most prominent in isolates tested. The presence of Shigella spps in readyto-eat game meat is an indication that people are at risk of severe infections which could be
difficult to treat during antibiotics therapy. However, Ciprofloxacin was found to be sensitive so it could be used for treatment. Therefore, the adoption of safety measures such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principle which provides the framework for monitoring food system from farm-fork is needed in the game meat supply chain to reduce the
risk of foodborne illnesses. Keywords: RTE game meat, Shigella, Nigeria, antimicrobial resistance, foodborne illnesses.