title: Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella in children with acute gastroenteritis in Abuja, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Nigeria, acute gastroenteritis in children under five years of age is a major cause of mortality and morbidity; identification and characterization of microbial agents of acute gastroenteritis, including Salmonella, remains a powerful tool for effective management, surveillance, and control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diarrheal stool samples were directly plated onto differential and selective media to isolate Salmonella. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases were screened using the double disk diffusion technique and by PCR targeting the blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed usingthe PulseNet Canada Laboratory protocol for molecular subtyping using the restriction enzymes XbaI and BlnI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serotypes identified were Salmonella enterica serovar Zanzibar (n = 5), Salmonella Brancaster (n = 3), and one isolate of Salmonella Enteritidis (phage type 1). The following levels of resistance were found among the Salmonella strains: amoxicillin, five strains (55.6%); amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, two strains (22.2%); cephalexin, five strains (55.6%); and cefuroxime, five strains (55.6%). Intermediate resistance was found in five strains (55.6%) only to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. All isolates were susceptible to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone, and no ESBL-producing Salmonella were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrated the involvement of three Salmonella serovars in acute gastroenteritis; resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins was common.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. ifeanyi.casmir@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Casmir Ifeanyichukwu Cajetan
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Ifeanyi
authors.forename: Bassey Enya
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Bassey
authors.forename: Nkiruka Florence
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Ikeneche
authors.forename: Nazek
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Gallas
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003906:Developing Countries; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D065288:Serogroup
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial