Antibiotic Multiresistance Analysis of Mesophilic and Psychrotrophic Pseudomonas spp. Isolated from Goat and Lamb Slaughterhouse Surfaces throughout the Meat Production Process

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles of pseudomonads isolated from surfaces of a goat and lamb slaughterhouse, which were representative of areas that are possible sources of meat contamination. Mesophilic (85 isolates) and psychrotrophic (37 isolates) pseudomonads identified at the species level generally were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, rifampin, and ceftazidime (especially mesophiles), as well as colistin and tetracycline (especially psychrotrophes). However, they generally were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, imipenem, and kanamycin regardless of species identity. Worryingly, in the present study, we found multidrug resistance (MDR) to up to 13 antibiotics, which was related to intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, a link between various antimicrobial resistance genes was shown for beta-lactams and tetracycline, trimethoprim, and sulfonamides. The distribution and resistomebased analysis of MDR pseudomonads in different slaughterhouse zones indicated that the main sources of the identical or related pseudomonad strains were the animals (feet and wool) and the slaughterhouse environment, being disseminated from the beginning, or entrance environment, to the environment of the finished meat products. Those facts must be taken into consideration to avoid cross-contamination with the subsequent flow of mobile resistance determinants throughout all slaughterhouse zones and then to humans and the environment by the application of adequate practices of hygiene and disinfection measures, including those for animal wool and feet and also the entrance environment.

Deciphering Resistome and Virulome Diversity in a Porcine Slaughterhouse and Pork Products Through Its Production Chain

“…Additionally, these resistance determinants present on mobile genetic elements have increased the risk of their transfer between different ecosystems. Despite the increasing concerns over inappropriate use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine and food production, slaughterhouse and meat products remain potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes ( Lavilla Lerma et al, 2013 , 2014a , b ; Zhu et al, 2013 ). Consequently, ARB and ARGs can spread to humans throughout the food-supply chain (e.g., Antibiotic Resistance from the Farm to the Table, 2014 ) by exposure via contaminated animals, meat products, or natural environment (i.e., air, water, and soil) ( Founou et al, 2016 ).…”

“…On the other hand, the transfer of antibiotic resistance from human to animals may also occur due to the some interconnection process between ecosystems. Further, many commonly used biocides for disinfection procedures ( Chuanchuen et al, 2001 ; Gilbert et al, 2002 ) promote cross-resistance with antibiotics due to their action on common targets ( Lavilla Lerma et al, 2014a , b ); thereby shifting bacteria from having a single resistance trait leading to the selection of multidrug- or pan-drug resistant bacteria ( Magiorakos et al, 2012 ).…”

Methane Oxidation and Molecular Characterization of Methanotrophs from a Former Mercury Mine Impoundment

“…The general absence of activity at the pH extremes, but the clearly discernable uptake at circum-neutral pH would suggest that the sediments harbor mildly acidophilic methanotrophs as opposed to just acid-tolerant strains. Certainly they are not comparable to the unusual strains of Verrucomicrobia isolated from and adapted to environments that are highly acidic (pH ≤ 1.0) [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Nonetheless, continued incubation of sediment slurries coupled with methane consumption resulted in highly elevated extractable levels of three hopanoids (aminotriol, aminotetrol and aminopenol) as well as two C-3 methylated hopanoids (3-methylaminotriol and 3-methylaminotetrol) that were enriched ≥1000-fold over the un-incubated sediment ( Table 2 ; Figure 3 ).…”

“…Evidence for the possible existence of facultative methanotrophs that could grow on substrates like acetate as well as methane was controversial and contested (e.g., see commentary by Theisen and Murrell [ 12 ]) until the discovery of novel species of acetate-utilizing Methylocella that inhabit acidic peat bogs [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The idea that methanotrophs could thrive in acidic environments was pursued further with the discovery of the Verrucomicrobia, true methanotrophic extremophiles that inhabit geothermal regions and could grow at pH < 1.0 [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Dunfield [ 19 ] has reviewed the full extremophilic spectrum of known methanotrophy, which in addition to thermophiles and acidophiles includes examples from hypersaline and alkaline environments.…”

Isolation and Identification of Aerobic Bacteria Carrying Tetracycline and Sulfonamide Resistance Genes Obtained from a Meat Processing Plant

“…Although any buildup of microbial contamination on most food contact surfaces during day‐to‐day operations can be controlled by sanitation practices, some contact surfaces may develop excessively high loads of microbial contamination, which would act as continual sources of contamination for products coming in contact with them (Lavilla Lerma and others ). Sublethal concentrations of biocides in food industries may lead to the emergence of tolerance/resistance to various biocides and specific genotypes (resistant) may have the ability to survive routine disinfection procedures (Lavilla Lerma and others ). Some species can also become resident in the facilities by forming biofilms on food‐processing surfaces (Lindsay and others ).…”