Genetic Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility ofCampylobacterSpp. Isolated from Domestic and Imported Chicken Meats and Humans in Korea

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the in vitro activity of antimicrobials against Campylobacter spp. isolates from chicken and human sources and the genetic interrelation among them. During 2004-2008, a total of 173 Campylobacter spp. isolated from chicken meats (60 domestic and 62 imported chicken meats) and humans (n = 51) were tested for susceptibility to nine antimicrobials. Of 173 isolates, 140 (80.9%) showed multidrug resistance (MDR) against three to eight antimicrobials. The most frequent pattern type was MDR to four antimicrobials: ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, ampicillin, and tetracycline. Over 52.6% (91/173) of the isolates tested were resistant to these four antibiotics simultaneously. Especially, two and five isolates originated from Korea and Brazil showed resistance against all antibiotics tested, except for florfenicol. Further, 95% (57/60) of the isolates originated from domestic chicken showed resistance to ciprofloxacin, the antimicrobial agent of choice for treatment of human campylobacteriosis. Genotypic characterization of all Campylobacter isolates performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis yielded 74 types among the 173 isolates. Isolates sharing the same or similar genetic clusters were detected in different countries at different times. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of chicken-related isolates were closely related to those of isolates from humans with gastroenteritidis. The results of this study suggest that MDR Campylobacter spp. are widespread and that Campylobacter with similar genotypes are circulating both in humans and in chicken meat in Korea.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and Molecular Typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Isolates from Ducks in South Korea

“…Similarly, C. coli strains with high resistance to fluoroquinolones have been found in Iran, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with resistance rates ranging from less than 20% to 100% (11,14,15,36). The high fluoroquinolone resistance rate for Campylobacter in our study may be attributed to the widespread use of fluoroquinolones in poultry production in South Korea before July 2010 (37). Additionally, one study showed that fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter continues to persist even after removal of the selection pressure (38).…”

High‐Level Ciprofloxacin‐Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Circulating in Humans and Animals in Incheon, Republic of Korea

“…Based on a national surveillance study in Korea, ciprofloxacin‐resistant C. jejuni strains were isolated from humans, accounting for more than 83.7% of total C. jejuni strains collected from 2008 to 2011 (KNIH, ), and this prevalence rate increased to 95.2% in this study. When combined with the previous reports in other Korean studies regarding the human isolates (24% for ciprofloxacin resistance during 2007–2009, 65% during 2005–2008 and 82.3% during 2007–2008) (Kim et al., ; Ku et al., ; Shin et al., ), it should be noted that the incidence of ciprofloxacin‐resistant C. jejuni isolates has increased rapidly and maintained at a high level over recent years.…”

Antimicrobial Resistance in Farm Animals in Brazil: An Update Overview

“…Simultaneous resistance to ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, ampicillin, and tetracycline was the most frequent phenotype among Brazilian strains. Resistance to all drugs tested was found in the isolates originating from Brazil, except for florfenicol [72].…”