Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovars recovered from meat products legally and illegally imported into the EU reveals the presence of multiresistant and AmpC-producing isolates

Abstract

BackgroundFood products of animal origin brought into the EU from third countries, both legally and illegally, can harbor foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella enterica. In this study, we examined five S. enterica isolates recovered either from legally imported chicken meat (n = 3) or from meat products confiscated from air travel passengers arriving in Germany (n = 2). The isolates were serotyped and further characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR-detection and sequencing of genes associated with antimicrobial resistances, and macrorestriction analysis. Transferability of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was assessed by conjugation experiments and the plasmids tested for their incompatibility groups.ResultsThe three isolates from legal imports were identified as S. Heidelberg or as non-flagellated. All three isolates were identified as AmpC producers carrying blaCMY-2 and as non-susceptible to ciprofloxacin. They were additionally resistant to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole. The blaCMY-2-carrying plasmids were transferable by conjugation and belonged to incompatibility groups IncI1 or IncA/C. The two isolates from illegally imported meat belonged to the serovars Infantis or Weltevreden. The former was phenotypically resistant to five classes of antimicrobial agents while the S. Weltevreden isolate was fully susceptible to all agents tested.ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrate that meat products imported from third countries, both legally and illegally, can harbor multiresistant Salmonella enterica. Consequently, these imports could constitute a source for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistant isolates, including those resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.

Prevalence, phylogenomic insights, and phenotypic characterization of Salmonella enterica isolated from meats in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana

“…For instance; meat sources; beef, chevon, and mutton contained different serovars of S. enterica isolates which were clonally distinct (Figure 1). This finding corroborated with other studies reported worldwide specifically in Europe (Müller, Jansen, Grabowski, & Kehrenberg, 2018), Africa (Thomas et al, 2020), and Asia (Yang et al, 2019) which isolated different serovars S. enterica in food samples. However, all the guinea fowl and chicken samples contained the same serovar; S. enterica subsp.…”

Wild Boars Carry Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase- and AmpC-Producing Escherichia coli

“…The detection of additional resistance determinants was performed using a set of PCR assays as described previously [ 39 ]. This included determinants mediating resistance to tetracyclines ( tet (A), tet (B), tet (C), tet (D), tet (E), tet (G), and tet (H)), sulfonamides ( sul1 , sul2 and sul3 ), trimethoprim ( dfrA5/dfrA14 , dfrA7/dfrA17 , dfrA1 , and dfrB1/dfrB2 ) phenicols ( cmlA , floR ) and those associated with resistance to quinolones ( qnrA , qnrB , qnrC , qnrD , qnrS , qepA , aac(6′)-Ib-cr , gyrA , gyrB , parC, parE ).…”

Salmonella control in poultry flocks and its public health impact

“…Importation of poultry meat has been suggested as a possible means of the introduction of Salmonella serovars infrequently reported in Europe (Mueller et al, 2018). S. Heidelberg and S. Minnesota, both with multidrug-resistant profiles, including to ESCs and/or FQs, were identified in meat imported from outside the EU into Portugal.…”

“…Importation of poultry meat has been suggested as a possible means of the introduction of Salmonella serovars infrequently reported in Europe (Mueller et al., ). S .…”