This study was conducted in order to estimate the proportion of raw meat and processed meat products contaminated by Salmonella in the region of Algiers, Algeria, to identify serovars and to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolates. Out of the total 314 samples (144 of raw red meat and meat products, 128 of raw poultry meat and poultry products, and 42 of processed meat products) collected from various retail outlets, 61 (19.43%) were tested positive for Salmonella. The most significant occurrences were recorded for the categories of red meat (23.61%, n=34) and poultry (17.97%, n=23). Among the 64 isolates recovered, 21 different serovars were identified and two strains were nontypable. The most prevalent serovars were Salmonella Anatum (14.6%, n=9), Salmonella Altona (12.50%, n=8), Salmonella Corvallis (7.81%, n=5), Salmonella Enteritidis (7.81%, n=5), and Salmonella Typhimurium (7.81%, n=5). Sixty-two Salmonella isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 32 selected antimicrobial agents. Fifty-six (90.32%) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, of which 20 (32.26%) showed multidrug resistance. Resistance to sulphonamides (87.10%, n=54) was the most common. Resistance rates were lower to nalidixic acid (16.13%, n=10), streptomycin (16.13%, n=10), and tetracycline (12.90%, n=8), while resistance to pefloxacin was estimated at 4.84% (n=3). Fourteen different resistance patterns were observed. The "ACSSuT" pentaresistance pattern was observed in three of the Salmonella Typhimurium strains. The obtained results show that these foodstuffs are a potential source of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella for human infections.

The aims of our work are to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella isolated from carcasses and feces of cattle and sheep in the two biggest slaughterhouses in Algiers, Algeria, and to characterize the obtained strains by serotyping and antimicrobial resistance testing. The detection of Salmonella was performed by the conventional culture method and isolates were confirmed by PCR. Susceptibility to antibiotics was carried out by agar disc diffusion method. The results showed that 10.17% of samples were Salmonella positive. Carcass samples were more contaminated than fecal samples. Serotyping of the 84 Salmonella isolates has enabled to identify 10 different serovars; the most predominant was S. Muenster. The invA gene was detected in 96.43% of isolates whereas all S. Typhimurium strains were positive for spy gene. Sixty-eight (80.95%) isolates were resistant to at least one of the 28 antibiotics tested and exhibited 17 different antimicrobial resistance patterns. The most frequently observed resistance was to streptomycin (69.05%). While 22.62 % of the isolates were MDR, two S. Typhimurium showed an‘‘ACSSuT’’ pentaresistance pattern. Considering the importance of this group of bacteria for public health, Salmonella control is necessary at several steps of food production to ensure safe products for consumers.

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Introduction: In Algeria, the latest studies on Salmonella demonstrated warning contamination rates in farms and slaughterhouses. This pathogen can contaminate poultry meat and put humans at risk especially that such product is nowadays widely consumed. Methodology: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Algiers to evaluate prevalence, determine serotypes and quantify risk for Salmonella contamination in broiler chickens and turkeys at the post-chill stage of slaughter process. Results: batch prevalence was 63.1% for chickens and 34.9% for turkeys. Eleven serotypes were isolated from chickens and five from turkeys. The most predominant at both sample and batch levels was S. Kentucky either in chicken (65.1%) or in turkey carcasses (63.2%). Univariate analysis screened 3 variables for chickens and 5 variables for turkeys. Final multivariate regression models provided one potential risk factor for Salmonella contamination in each poultry species. Presence of less than 6 broilers simultaneously in the traditional scalding tank of small scale slaughterhouses had a significantly reduced contamination risk (OR = 0.31; p < 0.05). Slaughtering turkeys in sites processing only this specie than in mixed poultry slaughterhouses increased significantly the contamination probability (OR = 4.44; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study indicates a high prevalence of Salmonella-contaminated poultry carcass with wide diversity of serotypes. Moreover, two potential risk factors identified for the first time in Algeria are found to be associated with the lack in hygienic management on production sites. A real threat for consumers exists highlighting the imperative need for improved safety throughout the local poultry meat supply chain.

The present study was carried out to determine the virulence gene profiles associated with Salmonella subsp. enterica strains recovered from cattle and sheep samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 84 Salmonella isolates belonging to 10 serovars were screened for presence of 8 different virulence genes (invA, pefA, sefA, pipB, sseC, ssaP, spvC and iroB) using their specific primers. Different distribution patterns of these genes were noticed amongst the isolates. While the iroB gene was the most identified (n= 65, 77.4%), the sefA gene was not detected in all tested strains. pefA and spvC genes were detected in S. Typhimurium only with a rate of 3.6%. The four other genes were found to be present in 61.9% each. Occurrence of virulence genes did not vary significantly (P> 0.05) by serovar or animal species, neither by type of sample. The presence of all screened genes was significantly associated with resistance to at least one antibiotic from different classes except quinolones. These results show that transmissible pathogenic Salmonella strains are circulating in slaughterhouses in Algeria.