Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence gene profiles of Arcobacter species isolated from human stool samples, foods of animal origin, ready-to-eat salad mixes and environmental water

Abstract Background Members of the genus Arcobacter are considered as emerging zoonotic food and waterborne pathogens that cause gastroenteritis and bacteremia in humans. However, the potential risk that Arcobacter species pose to public health remains unassessed in various countries, including Baltic states. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of putative virulence genes of Arcobacter isolates recovered from humans, food products and environmental water in Lithuania. Results A total of 1862 samples were collected and examined from 2018 to 2020 in the city of Kaunas. Overall, 11.2% (n = 208) of the samples were positive for the presence of Arcobacter spp. The highest prevalence was detected in chicken meat (36%), followed by environmental water (28.1%), raw cow milk (25%), ready-to-eat salad mixes (7.1%) and human stool (1.7%). A. butzleri was the most frequently isolated species (n = 192; 92.3%), followed by A. cryaerophilus (n = 16; 7.7%). Arcobacter spp. antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed unimodally distributed aggregated minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for gentamicin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and erythromycin. However, a bimodal distribution for azithromycin was found with 96.2% of determined MICs above the epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) defined for Campylobacter jejuni (0.25 µg/ml). Majority of the Arcobacter isolates (n = 187; 89.9%) showed high susceptibility to ciprofloxacin with MICs below or equal to the ECOFF value of 0.5 µg/ml. The putative virulence genes cadF (100%), ciaB (100%), cj1349 (99%), tlyA (99%), mviN (97.9%) and pldA (95.8%) were the predominant genes detected among A. butzleri isolates. In contrast, the mviN and ciaB genes were present in all, whereas cj1349 (12.5%), tlyA (25%) and hecA (12.5%) were only detected in few A. cryaerophilus isolates. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that food products and environmental water in Lithuania are frequently contaminated with Arcobacter spp. that carry multiple putative virulence genes. Furthermore, A. butzleri were isolated from 1.7% of inpatients. Fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides were found to be more effective against Arcobacter in comparison to other antimicrobial agents. However, further studies are needed to determine the pathogenic mechanisms and factors that facilitate the spread of Arcobacter infections.

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Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence gene profiles of Arcobacter species isolated from human stool samples, foods of animal origin, ready-to-eat salad mixes and environmental water

10.21203/rs.3.rs-827207/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dainius Uljanovas ◽

Greta Gölz ◽

Vanessa Brückner ◽

Audrone Grineviciene ◽

Egle Tamuleviciene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Food Products ◽

Environmental Water ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations ◽

Human Stool

Abstract Background Members of the genus Arcobacter are considered as emerging zoonotic food and waterborne pathogens that cause gastroenteritis and bacteremia in humans. However, the potential risk that Arcobacter species pose to public health remains unassessed in various countries, including Baltic states. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of putative virulence genes of Arcobacter isolates recovered from humans, food products and environmental water in Lithuania. Results A total of 1862 samples were collected and examined from 2018 to 2020 in the city of Kaunas. Overall, 11.2% (n = 208) of the samples were positive for the presence of Arcobacter spp. The highest prevalence was detected in chicken meat (36%), followed by environmental water (28.1%), raw cow milk (25%), ready-to-eat salad mixes (7.1%) and human stool (1.7%). A. butzleri was the most frequently isolated species (n = 192; 92.3%), followed by A. cryaerophilus (n = 16; 7.7%). Arcobacter spp. antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed unimodally distributed aggregated minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for gentamicin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and erythromycin. However, a bimodal distribution for azithromycin was found with 96.2% of determined MICs above the epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) defined for C. jejuni (0.25 µg/ml). Majority of the Arcobacter isolates (n = 187; 89.9%) showed high susceptibility to ciprofloxacin with MICs below or equal to the ECOFF value of 0.5 µg/ml. The putative virulence genes cadF (100%), ciaB (100%), cj1349 (99%), tlyA (99%), mviN (97.9%) and pldA (95.8%) were the predominant genes detected among A. butzleri isolates. In contrast, the mviN and ciaB genes were present in all, whereas cj1349 (12.5%), tlyA (25%) and hecA (12.5%) were only detected in few A. cryaerophilus isolates. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that food products and environmental water in Lithuania are frequently contaminated with Arcobacter spp. that carry multiple putative virulence genes. Furthermore, A. butzleri were isolated from 1.7% of inpatients. Fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides were found to be more effective against Arcobacter in comparison to other antimicrobial agents. However, further studies are needed to determine the pathogenic mechanisms and factors that facilitate the spread of Arcobacter infections.

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Molecular characterisation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2020.10879 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

Raouia Ben Rhouma ◽

Ahlem Jouini ◽

Amira Klibi ◽

Safa Hamrouni ◽

Aziza Boubaker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Class 1 Integron ◽

E Coli ◽

Class 1

The purpose of this study was to identify Escherichia coli isolates in diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia and characterise their virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. In the 2014-2015 period, 60 faecal samples from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits were collected from different breeding farms in Tunisia. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents was tested by disc diffusion method and the mechanisms of gene resistance were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods. Forty E. coli isolates were recovered in selective media. High frequency of resistance to tetracycline (95%) was detected, followed by different levels of resistance to sulphonamide (72.5%), streptomycin (62.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60%), nalidixic acid (32.5%), ampicillin (37.5%) and ticarcillin (35%). E. coli strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem. Different variants of blaTEM, tet, sul genes were detected in most of the strains resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulphonamide, respectively. The presence of class 1 integron was studied in 29 sulphonamide-resistant E. coli strains from which 15 harboured class 1 integron with four different arrangements of gene cassettes, dfrA17+aadA5 (n=9), dfrA1 + aadA1 (n=4), dfrA12 + addA2 (n=1), dfrA12+orf+addA2 (n=1). The qnrB gene was detected in six strains out of 13 quinolone-resistant E. coli strains. Seventeen E. coli isolates from diarrhoeic rabbits harboured the enteropathogenic eae genes associated with different virulence genes tested (fimA, cnf1, aer), and affiliated to B2 (n=8) and D (n=9) phylogroups. Isolated E. coli strains from healthy rabbit were harbouring fim A and/or cnf1 genes and affiliated to A and B1 phylogroups. This study showed that E. coli strains from the intestinal tract of rabbits are resistant to the widely prescribed antibiotics in medicine. Therefore, they constitute a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant genes, which may play a significant role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, the eae virulence gene seemed to be implicated in diarrhoea in breeder rabbits in Tunisia.

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Detection of virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolates from raw milk and artisanal cheese in Southern Brazil

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n1p163 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 163 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Leandro Parussolo ◽

Ricardo Antônio Pilegi Sfaciotte ◽

Karine Andrezza Dalmina ◽

Fernanda Danielle Melo ◽

Ubirajara Maciel Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Raw Milk ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

E Coli

The serrano artisanal cheese is a typical product from South region of Brazil, which is produced by skilled cheesemakers using raw milk. The contamination of this food by Escherichia coli has a great impact on public health, since it could threat the consumers’ health. The study evaluated the presence of virulence genes, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and bofilm-production ability of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from raw milk and artisanal cheese produced in Southern Brazil. A total of 117 isolates of E. coli were characterized by multiplex PCR to detect the following virulence genes: eae for enteropatogenic E. coli (EPEC), lt and st for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), stx for shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), stx and eae for enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), ipaH for enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and aggR for enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility profile to 22 antimicrobial agents was also performed by disk diffusion method, and we searched for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and/or carbapenemase- producing isolates. Isolates that were positive for ESBL and carbapenemase were further investigated for the presence of the genes: blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA, blaCTX-M, for ESBL and blaOXA-48 for carbapenemase. Further, isolates had their ability to form biofilms investigated by the red Congo agar method. Virulence genes of E. coli were identified in 21.37% of the tested isolates, which were classified as EPEC (the most prevalent pathotype) and ETEC or EAEC. Ten (8.55%) of the total studied E. coli isolates revealed a multidrug-resistant profile, since they were resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes; whereas four isolates (3.42%) were classified as ESBL-producers and showed the presence of blaTEM gene. None of the isolates exhibited carbapenemase activity nor did they carry carbapenemase genes. From the total of E. coli isolates, 79 (67.52%) were considered potential biofilm producers. These results address a serious public health issue, since artisanal cheeses pose a risk to consumers’ health, since may be sources of dissemination of diarrheogenic E. coli, that can cause from subclinical to severe and fatal infections in children and adults, and also emphasize the need to improve adaptations/adjustments in the manufacturing processes of these products.

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Molecular detection of biofilm, virulence and antimicrobial resistance associated genes of Salmonella serovars isolated from pig and chicken of Mizoram, India

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-3817 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

S. Chakraborty ◽

P. Roychoudhury ◽

I. Samanta ◽

P. K. Subudhi ◽

Lalhruaipuii Lalhruaipuii ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Microtiter Plate ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Microtiter Plate Assay ◽

Antimicrobial Sensitivity ◽

Salmonella Infections

Salmonella has emerged as one of the most important food-borne pathogens for humans as well as animals and the ability of biofilm formation by these bacteria has further aided their survival in unfavorable environment. Characterization of these biofilm producing bacteria isolated from pigs and chicken may lead to formulation of strategies for prevention and control of Salmonella infections. Therefore, the present study was conducted to isolate Salmonella from pigs and poultry of Mizoram, determine their biofilm producing ability by phenotypic and genotypic methods along with their virulence and antimicrobial resistance properties. A total of 15 Salmonella spp. (pig=9, poultry=6) was isolated from 100 faecal samples from pigs and 50 cloacal swabs from poultry and biofilm producing ability of the isolates was determined by microtiter plate assay. A total of 10 (66.67%) isolates were found to be biofilm producer. All the biofilm producing bacterial isolates were investigated for antimicrobial sensitivity and distribution of selected biofilm associated genes (csgA, csgD and adrA), virulence genes (invA, stn and sefA) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes (blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M). The most prevalent resistance was found against ceftazidime (80%), ceftriaxone (80%), cefixime (70%), cefotaxime (70%), gentamicin (70%), cotrimoxazole (60%) and ampicillin (60%). A total of 7 (70%) isolates were resistant to at least three different classes of antimicrobial agents and considered as multidrug resistant. All the isolates were positive for adrA (100%) but negative for csgA and csgD genes. The most frequent virulence gene was invA (100%) and stn (100%). Among the AMR genes, blaTEM (60%) was found to be the major AMR determinants. Moreover, a total of 7 Salmonella isolates were positive for at least one of t biofilm associated genes, virulence genes and AMR genes.

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Provisional Use of CLSI-Approved Quality Control Strains for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Mycoplasma (‘Mesomycoplasma’) hyorhinis

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9091829 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 1829

Author(s):

Lisa Käbisch ◽

Anne-Kathrin Schink ◽

Corinna Kehrenberg ◽

Stefan Schwarz

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Susceptibility Testing ◽

Antimicrobial Treatment ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing ◽

Broth Microdilution ◽

Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations ◽

Microtiter Plates ◽

And Staphylococcus Aureus

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) should be conducted in a standardized manner prior to the start of an antimicrobial treatment. For fastidious bacteria, such as porcine Mycoplasma (‘Mesomycoplasma’) spp., specifically M. hyorhinis, neither guidelines or standards for the performance of AST, nor quality control strains for the validation of AST results are approved by organizations like the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). The CLSI- and EUCAST-approved quality control strains Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 were chosen to validate AST by broth microdilution using modified Friis broth, developed as growth medium for porcine Mycoplasma (‘Mesomycoplasma’) spp. The antimicrobial agents doxycycline, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, florfenicol, gentamicin, marbofloxacin, tetracycline, tiamulin, tilmicosin, tulathromycin, and tylosin were examined using customized SensititreTM microtiter plates. Minimal inhibitory concentrations, determined after 24, 48, and 72 h, were mostly within the CLSI-approved quality control ranges for defined antimicrobial agents. We propose the use of the combination of E. faecalis ATCC 29212 and S. aureus ATCC 29213 as surrogate quality control strains for the validation of future AST results obtained for M. hyorhinis by broth microdilution using modified Friis broth.

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Prevalence, molecular detection, and virulence gene profiles of Campylobacter species in humans and foods of animal origin

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.1430-1438 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1430-1438

Author(s):

Ashraf M. A. Barakat ◽

Khaled A. Abd El-Razik ◽

Hassan A. Elfadaly ◽

Nagwa S. Rabie ◽

Sabry A. S. Sadek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Animal Origin ◽

23S Rrna ◽

Campylobacter Coli ◽

Milk Product ◽

Milk Products ◽

Pcr Targeting ◽

Campylobacter Spp ◽

Human Stool

Background and Aim: Campylobacteriosis is one of the most well-characterized bacterial foodborne infections worldwide that arise chiefly due to the consumption of foods of animal origin such as poultry, milk, and their products. The disease is caused by numerous species within the genus Campylobacter, but Campylobacter jejuni is the most commonly isolated species from established cases of human campylobacteriosis. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and virulence of Campylobacter isolates from human, chicken, and milk and milk products in Egypt. Materials and Methods: A total of 1299 samples (547 chicken intestine and liver, 647 milk and milk products, and 105 human stool) were collected and microbiologically investigated, confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 23S rRNA, hipO, and glyA genes specific for Campylobacter spp., C. jejuni, and Campylobacter Coli, respectively, followed by virulence genes (Campylobacter adhesion to fibronectin F [cadF] and cdtB) detection using PCR. Results: About 38.09%, 37.84%, and 8.5% of human stool, chicken, and milk and milk product samples, respectively, were bacteriologically positive, with a total of 302 Campylobacter isolates. All isolates were molecularly confirmed as Campylobacter spp. (100%) where 285 isolates (94.37%) were identified as C. jejuni and 17 isolates (5.62%) as C. coli. Regarding the virulence pattern, all isolates (100%) carried cadF gene while cytolethal distending toxin B gene was definite in 284/302 isolates (94%), concisely, 282/285 (98.94%) C. jejuni isolates, and in 2/17 (11.76%) C. coli isolates. Conclusion: The widespread presence of these highly virulent Campylobacter, especially C. jejuni, proofs the urgent need for the implementation of stringent control, public health, and food protection strategies to protect consumers from this zoonotic pathogen. The availability of information about pathogen virulence will enable enhanced local policy drafting by food safety and public health officials.

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Phylogenetic genotyping, virulence genes and antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolates from cases of bovine mastitis

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s002202992100011x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 78-79

Author(s):

Nashmil Aslam ◽

Saeed-Ul-Hassan Khan ◽

Tahir Usman ◽

Tariq Ali

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Iron Uptake ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Bovine Mastitis ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

E Coli ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Group A ◽

Mastitic Milk

AbstractThe study described in this research communication used phylogenetic genotyping to identify virulence genes and antimicrobial susceptibility in Escherichia coli recovered from cases of bovine mastitis. From 385 mastitic milk samples, 30 (7.8%) isolates were confirmed as E. coli. Most isolates (80%) belonged to phylo-group A. These 30 E. coli isolates were also screened for 11 different virulence genes. The majority of isolates (63%) harbored no virulence gene. Only 11 (37%) isolates tested positive for two virulence genes, either the iron uptake gene iucD in 3 (10%) isolates or the serum resistance gene traT in 2 (7%) isolates or both traT and iucD in 6 (20%) isolates. The E. coli isolates showed highest susceptibility to gentamicin, meropenem, and pipracillin. Most isolates were resistant to ampicillin, cefotaxime and streptomycin. This study suggests that mastitis causing E. coli might originate from commensal bacteria and that the presence of these virulence genes, common in extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains could be attributed to high genetic variability of mastitis-causing E. coli.

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Screening methods used for the detection of veterinary drug residues in raw cow milk – a review

Czech Journal of Food Sciences ◽

10.17221/2438-cjfs ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 26 (No. 6) ◽

pp. 393-401 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

P. Navrátilová

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Veterinary Drug ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Veterinary Drug Residues ◽

Drug Residues ◽

Health Safety

At both national and international levels, increasing attention is paid to the evaluation of the risk of occurrence of veterinary drug residues in foodstuffs and foods of animal origin, and to the introduction of appropriate measures to reduce this risk. The design and strategy of antibiotics and sulphonamide detection in milk involve two different aspects: the ability to sell the milk depending on its quality (technological safety), and the health safety of the milk regulated by the recent legislative regulations (toxicological safety). Veterinary drug residues in milk represent a health risk for the consumer. This review describes the methods used for extensive monitoring of antimicrobial agents – microbial inhibitor methods and rapid specific assays.

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High risk of potential diarrheagenic Bacillus cereus in diverse food products in Egypt

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/jfp-20-384 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Heba M. Amin ◽

Mahmoud M. Tawfick

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Cereus ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Health Management ◽

Food Products ◽

Bacterial Count ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Genetic Profile ◽

Pathogenic Potential ◽

Encoding Genes

Bacillus cereus is one of the important foodborne pathogens that can be found in various foodstuffs; causing diarrheal and/or emetic syndromes. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, pathogenic potential, and genotypic diversity of B. cereus isolated from diverse food products from markets in Cairo, Egypt. A total of 39 out of 165 food samples were positive for B. cereus (detection rate of 24%) with a contamination level ranged from 2 to 6 log CFU/g and a higher incidence of > 3 log bacterial count. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that B. cereus isolates were fully sensitive to all tested antimicrobial agents except β-lactams. The pathogenic potential of the 39 B. cereus isolates was assessed by detecting and profiling the secreted virulence or toxin encoding genes including the chromosomal-carried genes hblA , bceT , plc , sph , nheA , entFM , cytK associated with the diarrheal syndrome and the plasmid-carried ces gene associated with the emetic syndrome. The most frequently detected genes were hblA , nheA and entFM . All isolates harbored more than one of the diarrheal enterotoxins encoding genes with the genetic profile hblA-bceT-nheA-entFM-cytK-plc-sph was the most prevalent (in 20/39 isolates). The emetic toxin ces was not detected at all. ERIC-based analysis of the 20 B. cereus isolates harboring the prevalent genetic profile revelated that they were genetically distinct. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide useful information for public health management and serve as a warning of the potential risk of diarrheagenic B. cereus in diverse food products. Therefore, the consideration to extensively study the epidemiology of this food pathogen in Egypt is warranted. Additionally, strict procedures should be applied to monitor, protect, and safely handle food products, particularly ready to eat foodstuffs that are usually consumed without heat treatment.

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Genetic characterisation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from commercial broiler chickens in the Durban metropolitan area, South Africa

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1416 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 88 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nelisiwe Mkize ◽

Oliver T. Zishiri ◽

Samson Mukaratirwa

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Commercial Broiler

Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in human and veterinary medicine is a serious worldwide problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus in commercial broiler chickens as well as to establish antimicrobial susceptibility and the distribution of genetic determinants conferring resistance and virulence. One hundred and ninety-four samples were aseptically collected from broiler chicken slaughterhouses and retail outlets around the Durban metropolitan area in South Africa. Microbiological and molecular methods were used to detect the presence of S. aureus as well as its resistance- and virulence-associated genes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the presence of S. aureus by amplifying the nuc gene. Approximately 54% of 194 samples were positive for S. aureus. The disc diffusion technique was used to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the S. aureus isolates to a battery of 10 antimicrobial agents, namely ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, erythromycin, cefoxitin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, vancomycin and trimethoprim. The results demonstrated that S. aureus isolates of abattoir origin had a high level (79.4%) of resistance to tetracycline, followed by ampicillin, vancomycin, cefoxitin, trimethoprim, erythromycin and streptomycin with resistance rates of 65.1%, 61.9%, 60.3%, 58.7%, 57.1% and 46.0%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus isolates of retail origin exhibited higher antimicrobial resistance prevalence rates than those of abattoir origin. Tetracycline had the highest resistance rate (100%), followed by cefoxitin (91.7%), erythromycin (83.3%), streptomycin (83.3%) and kanamycin (66.7%). All isolates were resistant to two or more antimicrobial agents. Out of the four virulence genes that were screened, only two were detected (coagulase and protein A); however, their prevalence rates were very low. All antimicrobial resistance genes screened were detected (mecA, BlaZ and tetK), although their prevalence did not correspond with antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

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