The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli, especially extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains, in the intestinal tract of broilers could be a threat to poultry and human. We investigated changes of antimicrobial resistance patterns and frequency of ESBL genes among faecal E. coli isolates of broilers and workers in five different farms during two rearing periods in Iran. In this regard, E. coli was isolated from rectal swabs of the workers and cloacal swabs of the broilers. After detection of antibiotic resistance patterns, phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of ESBL phenotype in these strains, carriage of the resistance genes on their crude plasmid extracts and diversity of plasmid profiles were analysed. Accordingly, multidrug-resistant (MDR) patterns were detected in a high percentage of E. coli strains from the workers (72.7%) and poultry (92.3%). ESBL-producing E. coli strains were identified in these farms throughout the two periods of rearing (6.3%). bla CTX-M-1 , bla CTX-M-61 , bla TEM-116 and bla TEM-1 were characterised in 6 (Period I/II: 4/2), 1 (Period I), 2 (Period II) and 9 (Period I/II: 5/4) strains, respectively. The first isolation of E. coli strains harbouring the bla TEM116 gene in chicken is reported in this study. In conclusion, results of this study showed that chickens could serve as a reservoir for ESBL-producing E. coli strains. These strains could carry clinically important ESBL or new emerging b-lactamases genes. Early colonisation and selection of the resistant strains during rearing periods proposed illegal use of antimicrobials as the cause of change in resistance patterns in the studied farms. ARTICLE HISTORY

BackgroundMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of foodborne diseases. The present research evaluated the antibiotic resistance properties, distribution of virulence factors, and molecular typing of MRSA bacteria isolated from vegetable and salad samples. MethodsThree-hundred and fifty vegetable and salad samples were examined for the presence of S. aureus using the culture. MRSA bacteria were identified using cefoxitin and oxacillin disk diffusion. The phenotypic pattern of antibiotic resistance was assessed by disk diffusion. ResultsThe PCR evaluated the distribution of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Forty-five out of 350 (12.85%) vegetable and salad samples were positive for S. aureus. Twenty-six isolates out of 45 (57.77%) S. aureus bacteria were determined as MRSA. MRSA bacteria harbored the uppermost prevalence of resistance against cefoxitin (100%), ceftaroline (100%), penicillin (100%), tetracycline (88.46%), gentamicin (80.76%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (69.23%), and erythromycin (69.23%). The prevalence of MRSA bacteria resistance recovered from vegetable and salad samples against more than seven antibiotic agents was 12.50% and 27.77%, respectively. BlaCTX-M (100%), blaZ (100%), aacA-D (61.53%), tetK (57.69%), dfrA1 (46.15%), and vanA (42.30%) were the most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes. PVL (57.69%), coa (53.84%), and hla (38.46%) were the most commonly detected virulence factors amongst the MRSA bacteria. ConclusionMRSA isolates had a similarity lower than 80%, categorized in the same group. The presence of one or more virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes amongst the resistant-MRSA bacteria signifies an important threat rendering the consumption of contaminated vegetables and salads.

Background and Objectives: Source tracking of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter is useful for control measures. In this study, Campylobacter-associated diarrhea and homology in antimicrobial resistance of humans and poultry meat isolates were investigated. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 stools of patients and 100 poultry meat samples were analyzed. Susceptibility of the isolates was detected by disk diffusion, Etest, and. agar dilution methods. Mismatch amplification mutation assay was used for the detection of mutations in the gyrA quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR). Results: Campylobacter spp., including C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, were detected in 35% of the chicken meat and 6.75% of the stool samples, respectively. The QRDR mutation was detected in most of the stool and chicken meat samples. Although the frequency of resistance to tetracycline (53.5% and 62.8%), erythromycin (39.2% and 37.1%), and gentamicin (32.1% and. 31.4%) was relatively similar, higher frequency of resistance to ciprofloxacin (51.4% vs 28.6%) and nalidixic acid (42.15% vs 28.6%) among the chicken meat, and ampicillin (50% and 17.1%) among the human stool was detected. Conclusion: High percentage of poultry meat samples is contaminated with different Campylobacter species, which shows homology with the patients’ isolates in Tehran.