Enid Godwin¹*, Joy Enegbe Akwaji¹, DI Ajogi¹, Tangsom H Chama², SI Enem¹ and Godwin Onyeamaechi Egwu³

¹Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, PMB 117, Abuja, Nigeria
²Department of Animal Science, Taraba State University Jalingo, Nigeria
³Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, PMB 117, Abuja, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Enid Godwin, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, PMB 117, Abuja, Nigeria.

Received: March 31, 2026; Published: May 31, 2026

Abstract

Seafood remains a vital protein source worldwide; however, postharvest contamination poses serious public health concerns. This study investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and virulence characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dried crayfish sold in supermarkets across three locations within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 323 dried crayfish samples were randomly collected and bacteriologically examined using standard microbiological and molecular techniques. S. aureus was detected in 40 samples, representing an overall prevalence of 12.3%. The highest occurrence was recorded in Kuje (13.4%), followed by Bwari (12.4%) and Gwagwalada (11.1%), with no statistically significant difference among locations (p > 0.05). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to co-trimoxazole up to 87.5% and erythromycin 81.8%, while isolates remained highly susceptible to gentamicin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Multiple Antibiotic Resistance index values ranged from 0.2 to 0.9, with most isolates exhibiting indices ≥0.6, indicating exposure to environments with intensive antibiotic use. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of enterotoxin genes in some isolates, highlighting their pathogenic potential. The detection of multidrug-resistant and toxigenic S. aureus in a widely consumed seafood product underscores critical food safety and one health concerns. Enhanced hygienic handling, regulated antibiotic use in aquaculture, and continuous surveillance are essential to minimize consumer exposure to antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; Dried Crayfish; Antibiotic Resistance; Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index; Food Safety

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Citation

Citation: Enid Godwin., et al. “Molecular Detection of Staphylococcus aureus from Dried Crayfish Sold at Selected Supermarkets in the Federal Capital Ter- ritory Abuja, Nigeria". Acta Scientific Microbiology 9.6 (2026): 40-47.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Enid Godwin., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.