Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella isolated from Raw Retail Broiler Chicken Carcasses in Zambia

Abstract

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of foodborne pathogens is of public health concern, especially in developing countries such as Zambia. This study was undertaken to determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella isolated from raw retail broiler chicken carcasses purchased from open and supermarkets in Zambia.Results A total of 189 E. coli and five Salmonella isolates were isolated. Identification and confirmation of the isolates were done using Analytical Profile Index (API 20E) (Biomerieux®) and 16S rRNA sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) were performed using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique using a panel of 10 antibiotics. Multiplex PCR was used to determine the presence of three target genes encoding for resistance: tetA, Sul1 and blaCTX-M. WHONET 2018 software was used to analyse AST results. The E. coli isolates were mostly resistant to tetracycline (79.4%), ampicillin (51.9%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (49.7%). Two of the five Salmonella isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Forty- seven (45.2%) of the 104 isolates that were screened for the presence of the resistant genes possessed at least one of the targeted resistance genes.Conclusion This study has demonstrated the presence of AMR E. coli and Salmonella on raw retail broiler chicken carcasses from open and supermarkets, which is of public health concern.

Evidence of Community-Wide Spread of Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli in Young Children in Lusaka and Ndola Districts, Zambia

“…Several studies have reported high resistance to commonly used antibiotics, e.g., ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline, against enteric bacterial infections [49,[58][59][60]. The easy accessibility and affordability of these drugs have led to their overuse by the population [29,33] but also in the animal production chain, as evidenced by recent studies completed in Zambia [22,23,61]. Further, in countries with a high prevalence of HIV infection, like Zambia [62], trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been heavily used for the past decades as prophylaxis against opportunistic infections in HIV-infected and/or exposed individuals [63,64].…”

“…A significant driver of AMR development is the over-and misuse of antimicrobials as therapeutics in human and veterinary medicine, agriculture growth promotors, and disinfectants in households [13][14][15][16]. Many of these compounds end up in the environment [17][18][19], hence contributing to the spread of AMR in animals, the environment, and directly or indirectly to humans [20][21][22][23]. Further, other factors such as behavioural, e.g., self-prescription of antibiotics [24]; sanitation and demographic e.g., crowded settings, poor cleanliness [25,26]; socio-economic e.g., poverty [27,28], have been implicated in the spread of AMR in communities.…”

Molecular Characterization of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella species isolated from retail chicken with control trial using organic acids in vitro.

“…Moreover, among the bacterial enter pathogens causing food borne diseases, E. coli and Salmonella sp. were major contributors to the millions of annual cases, occasionally resulting in fatal outcomes (Muonga et al 2020). Salmonella had demonstrated resistance to individual antibiotics like ampicillin and chloramphenicol, with documented cases of multiple drug resistance (MDR) reported globally (Raji et al 2021).…”

Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli from Raw Cow Milk in Namwala District, Zambia: Public Health Implications

“…Despite research in food animals improving in contemporary times, studies on AMR microbes in milk are relatively rare in Zambia, especially in rural areas. For instance, in Zambia, reports of drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae have generally focused on humans and poultry in urban areas [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. However, the AMR situation in raw milk remains limited, particularly in rural areas where research is generally neglected.…”