Isolation and Identification of Zoonotic Species of Genus Arcobacter from Chicken Viscera Obtained from Retail Distributors of the Metropolitan Area of San Jose, Costa Rica

Abstract

Arcobacter is a genus of growing importance worldwide; some of its species are considered emerging enteropathogens and potential zoonotic agents. In Costa Rica, as well as in other countries, its isolation has been reported, so the objective of this project was to evaluate and identify the presence of Arcobacter in chicken viscera sold in the metropolitan area of San José, Costa Rica, as well as to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns associated with it. One hundred fifty samples of chicken viscera including heart, liver, and other gastrointestinal organs were purchased from 15 supermarkets and 15 local retailers. De Boer and Houf broths were used as enrichment media; isolation was done with Arcobacter-selective medium and with membrane filtration with blood agar. Typical colonies were identified with genus-specific PCR, and species identification was made with multiplex PCR. Susceptibility to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline was done with the Epsilometer test. The isolation frequency of Arcobacter genus obtained in this study was of 17.3%. A total of 33 isolates were obtained from the poultry samples, and according to the multiplex PCR methodology, 22 (66.7%) isolates were identified as Arcobacter butzleri, 8 (24.2%) as Arcobacter cryaerophilus, and 1 (3.1%) as Arcobacter skirrowii. Two strains were not identified. No statistical significant difference was found when the source of samples was compared. Resistance toward chloramphenicol was 68.75%, followed by ampicillin (43.75%) and ciprofloxacin (18.75%); all strains were susceptible to tetracycline.

Arcobacter: Comparison of Isolation Methods, Diversity, and Potential Pathogenic Factors in Commercially Retailed Chicken Breast Meat from Costa Rica

“…In this work, the isolation frequency of Arcobacter from chicken breast samples was 56%. There is an important difference between this isolation frequency obtained and the one described by Garcia Villalobos et al (16) from chicken viscera also commercially distributed in Costa Rica (17.3%). This difference agrees with the findings reported by Golla et al (17) in which higher isolation rates of these bacteria were obtained from chicken meat than from the bud's gastrointestinal tract.…”

“…The presence of this pathogen in Costa Rica has already been demonstrated (2,16). In this work, the isolation frequency of Arcobacter from chicken breast samples was 56%.…”

“…Although little information is available in Latin America, isolation of Arcobacter has been reported in several countries in Central and South America (10,15,16). This study aimed to determine the frequency and diversity of Arcobacter species in fresh chicken breast samples obtained from retailed markets in San Jose, Costa Rica.…”

Arcobacter: an emerging food-borne zoonotic pathogen, its public health concerns and advances in diagnosis and control – a comprehensive review

“…Highest incidence of A. butzleri was reported with 83% from chicken meat followed by beef (20%) and pork (15%) in Poland (Zacharow et al 2015). Villalobos et al (2013) reported isolation of Arcobacter as 17% from poultry visceral samples sold in Costa Rica and most of these isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Badilla-Ram ırez et al (2016) reported that A. butzleri had the capacity to grow at 4 C and 10 C. They suggested that A. butzleri is a powerful bacterium for surviving in various storage temperatures, and is a potential health risk for poultry meat consumers.…”

First isolation report of Arcobacter cryaerophilus from a human diarrhea sample in Costa Rica

“…A. butzleri, A. thereius, A. skirrowii and A. cryaerophyilus have been isolated from different animal sources in Costa Rica, especially from poultry 17 - 20 . Nevertheless, human diarrhea associated to Arcobacter sp.…”