Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility of ThermophilicCampylobacterSpecies on Beef, Mutton, and Chicken Carcasses in Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence of contamination of retail-level beef, mutton, and broiler carcasses in Istanbul, Turkey, by thermophilic Campylobacter spp. (TCS) and determined antimicrobial susceptibilities of the TCS strains isolated from these carcasses. From November 2005 to October 2006, 198 beef and 120 mutton carcass excision samples, and 232 chicken carcasses (whole and pieces) were randomly collected from different retail stores and meat-processing plants in Istanbul. TCS were isolated from 11.1%, 21.6%, and 50.4% of beef, mutton, and chicken samples tested, respectively. There was no significant seasonal variation in the prevalence of TCS. A total of 292 Campylobacter isolates were obtained from the samples (56.5% C. jejuni, 33.9% C. Coli, and 9.6% C. lari). C. jejuni was the species most commonly isolated from chicken meat (56.5%<65.9 from table 2>), while C. coli was the most common in beef (63.3%) and mutton (63.9%) carcasses. Susceptibilities of 246 strains for eight antimicrobial drugs were determined using disk diffusion assay. Campylobacter isolates were most often resistant to tetracycline (69.1%), followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (64.2%), nalidixic acid (58.1%), erythromycin (56.9%), enrofloxacin (48.8%), ciprofloxacin (42.7%), chloramphenicol (36.2%), and gentamicin (26.0%). The results of this study suggest that a high proportion of meat samples, particularly chicken carcasses, are contaminated by TCS, most of which are antimicrobial-resistant strains. Since campylobacteriosis is transmitted primarily through food of animal origin, the presence of antimicrobial-resistant strains in meat has important implications for public health and food safety.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance ofCampylobacterIsolated from Dressed Beef Carcasses and Raw Milk in Tanzania

“…A high number of nalidixic acid-resistant Campylobacter (up to 75% of tested isolates) was previously observed in samples from a variety of sources, including chicken and beef meat and carcasses. 12,21,81 The resistance of Campylobacter to fluoroquinolones can be associated with discrete point mutations in gyrA, the gene that encodes the DNA gyrase subunit A. 26,65 For example, a gyrA mutation leading to a Thr86-Ile substitution confers resistance to both ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid.…”

“…The results are comparable to those reported by other investigators. 12,62,64,68,92 Macrolides (erythromycin and tylosin) resistance was primarily associated with most (91.7%) of the MDR isolates. A similar association has been reported in previous studies, although no genetic basis has been described.…”

Prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in broilers at retail in the Czech Republic and their antibiotic resistance

“…and therefore are not a substitute for safe handling and proper cooking of raw poultry. Bostan, Aydin, and Ang (2009) studied the prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in beef, mutton and chicken at retail in Istanbul, Turkey.…”

“…The most prevalent species were C. jejuni in chicken and C. coli in beef and mutton. Bostan et al (2009) tested the resistance of 246 Campylobacter spp. isolates to selected antibiotics.…”

Joint Opinion on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) focused on zoonotic infections

“…In Turkey, (Bostan, K et al, 2009) the susceptibilities of 246 isolates were determined using a small panel of antimicrobials. In this report 57% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin.…”