Borehole water has remained a major source of domestic water in most urban and semi-urban settlements, and have been frequently associated with cases of Salmonella contamination. This study investigated the prevalence, antibiotic resistance profiles, and molecular features of Salmonella species recovered from borehole water sources in selected suburban communities of Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 120 borehole water samples were randomly obtained from Elelenwo, Rumuokparali, and Eliozu communities within Obio/Akpor Local Government Area during four sampling periods representing different seasons of the year. Samples were analyzed using established microbiological procedures, and isolates were identified through cultural and molecular techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method in accordance with CLSI standards to determine resistance patterns. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was further employed to detect the presence of the antibiotic resistance gene blaTEM and the toxigenic gene stn among the isolates.The Salmonella isolates resistance showed 100% resistance Cefotaxime, Nitrofurantoin, Cefexime and Ceftriazone, with overall MAR index ranging from 0.25 to 1.0. The 16S rRNA analysis identified the relatedness of Salmonella enterica subspecies to montevideo strain 11TTUC-046, paratyphi C strain SA49, typhi strain PU4; typhi strain MSAR18, and enteritidis strain SA26. The study also revealed the presence of antibiotics resistance (blaTEM) and toxigenic (stn) gene markers in all the isolates. The study has shown the prevalence of different strains of Salmonella species with virulence gene biomarkers and their potentials to resist conventional antibiotics. The findings from this study therefore highlights the need for water treatment practices and regulated antibiotics stewardship.
