Prevalence of β-Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli from Retail Meat in Turkey

• Published in: Journal of food science Vol. 80; no. 9; pp. M2023 - M2029
• Main Authors: Pehlivanlar Oenen, Sevda, Aslantas, Oezkan, Sebnem Yilmaz, Ebru, Kuerekci, Cemil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Beef; beef meat; beta-Lactamases - metabolism; Cattle; chicken meat; Chickens; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - genetics; E. coli; ESBL; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Food Microbiology; Genes; Genes, Bacterial; Human; Humans; Meat; Meat - analysis; Meat - microbiology; Phylogeny; Plasmids; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Streptomycin; Turkey; Turkey; MED, Turkey; ESBL; beef meat; chicken meat; E. coli
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.12984

Extended spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL) and plasmid‐mediated AmpC β‐lactamase (pAmpC) producing Escherichia coli have been shown to be present in humans and animals representing a significant problem worldwide. This study aimed to search the presence of ESBL and/or AmpC‐producing E. coli in retail meats (chicken and beef) in Turkey. A total of 88 β‐lactamase‐producing E. coli were isolated from chicken (n = 81/100) and beef meat (n = 7/100) samples and their susceptibility to several antimicrobials were tested using disc diffusion method. E. coli isolates were further characterized for their phylogenetic groups. β‐Lactamase encoding (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA, blaCTX‐M, and blaAmpC) and quinolone resistance genes (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, qepA, and acc(6′)‐Ib‐cr) were also secreened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, in regard to β‐lactamase genes, 84 of 88 isolates were positive for blaCTX‐M‐1 (n = 39), blaCTX‐M‐3 (n = 5), blaCTX‐M‐15 (n = 4), blaTEM‐1b (n = 2), blaSHV‐12 (n = 1), blaCTX‐M‐1/blaTEM‐1b (n = 10), blaCTX‐M‐1/blaTEM‐1b/blaSHV‐5 (n = 1), blaCTX‐M‐1/blaCMY‐2 (n = 1) and blaTEM‐1b/blaCMY‐2 (n = 6), blaCTX‐M‐15/blaSHV‐12 (n = 1), blaCTX‐M‐15/blaTEM‐1b (n = 1), blaTEM‐1b/blaSHV‐12 (n = 1), and blaCMY‐2 (n = 12) genes. Resistance to cefuroxime (75.6% and 85.7%), nalidixic acid (89% and 85.7%), tetracycline (91.4% and 100%), streptomycin (40.2% and 100%), and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (36.6% and 85.7%) was observed among strains isolated from chicken and beef, respectively. However, all isolates were found to be susceptible to amikacin, imipenem, and cefepime. Resistance to ampicillin and cefoxitin was significantly linked to blaCMY‐2 gene, while there was a significant correlation between CTX‐M type ESBL and antimicrobial resistance to cefuroxime and streptomycin (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that raw chicken retail meats are highly contaminated with ESBL‐producing E. coli implementing a great risk to human health in Turkey.
Practical Application
The occurrence of ESBL producing Escherichia coli in food of animal origin has been found to be significant risk factors for human health. In order to improve food safety in the chicken industry, it is of importance to determine the carriage of this pathogen and its antimicrobial resistance against critically important antibiotics in human health medicine. In the current study, raw chicken retail meats are highly contaminated with ESBL producing E. coli and the situation has to be monitored regularly.