Yersinia enterocolitica in a Brazilian pork production chain: Tracking of contamination routes, virulence and antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

This study aimed to track Yersinia enterocolitica contamination in a pork production chain in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to characterize the virulence and antibiotic resistance of isolates. Samples were collected from four different steps of the pork production chain (pig farm, carcass, processing environment and end product; n = 870), and tested for the presence of Y. enterocolitica. The pathogen was detected in 8 samples (palatine tonsils = 5; mesenteric lymph nodes = 2; carcass after bleeding = 1), from which 16 isolates were obtained and identified as Y. enterocolitica bioserotype 4/O:3. XbaI macrorestriction allowed the clustering of isolates in 5 pulsetypes, and the identification of identical profiles of Y. enterocolitca isolated from different samples. All isolates were positive for the virulence related genes ail, virF, myfA, ystA, tccC, ymoA, hreP and sat, and negative for ystB, ystC, fepA, fepD and fes. Considering 17 antibiotics from 11 classes, only ciprofloxacin and kanamycin were effective against all isolates, and three multidrug resistance profiles were identified among them, with simultaneous resistance to 9 of 11 classes. All isolates presented positive results for emrD, yfhD and marC, related to multidrug resistance. The results of this study demonstrated the contamination routes of Y. enterocolitica within the assessed pork production chain, and highlighted the pathogenic potential and antibiotic resistance of this foodborne pathogen.

Diversity of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from pigs in a French slaughterhouse over 2 years

“…Most of the isolates considered in this study were of biotype 4 (92.81%). The predominance of biotype 4, which is pathogenic to humans, is in accordance with many previous studies on pigs (Bonardi et al, 2014;Martinez et al, 2011;Martins et al, 2018;Rahikainen Ibañez et al, 2016;Van Damme, Habib, & Zutter, 2010). Biotypes 2 and 3 were also found in the slaughtered pigs examined.…”

Virulence Characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica Isolated from Dairy Products in the Northeast of Iran

“…Similarly, Fois et al (2018) reported that Y. enterocolitica isolated from raw milk did not contain the ail gene [4]. In contrast, some studies have denoted that most isolates harbored this gene [10,27,28]. In another research conducted in the northwest of Iran, the isolates of Y. enterocolitica from raw milk and cheese samples contained 2.26% and 4% ail gene, respectively [14].…”

Antimicrobial Resistance in Farm Animals in Brazil: An Update Overview

“…As this pathogen persists in the pork chain from the initial steps of production, contamination of carcasses and pork products can occur, particularly during handling of the head, tongue, and palatine tonsils [90]. In addition, Y. enterocolitica may be present in the intestinal contents and mesenteric lymph nodes of pigs, which are also considered relevant sources of contamination during slaughtering [91].…”

“…In the past ten years, the occurrence of Y. enterocolitica was low, but still suggesting that pigs serve as a primary source in the transmission of this bacteria to humans [92]. Noteworthy, multidrug resistance is commonly found among isolates of this species in Brazil, with variable resistance profiles [91][92][93].…”

“…Frazão et al (2017) studied 34 isolates obtained in 30 years, and most of them (94.1%) were resistant to ampicillin and ticarcillin even when associated with a beta-lactamase inhibitor, the resistance persisted [93]. Other studies could also observe high frequencies of resistance to aminopenicillins [91,92]. Among 16 isolates obtained from 10 pig production lots, this trend was also described to other beta-lactams, such as cephalosporins and carbapenems, both in frequencies as high as 100% [91].…”