Prevalence and multidrug resistance of Enterococcus species isolated from chickens at slaughterhouses in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

Abstract

Background and Aim: Enterococcus is a commensal bacteria found in humans and animals, which can cause human nosocomial infections. One of the most contaminated enterococcal sources is poultry meat. Therefore, this study estimated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of Enterococcus from chickens and their meat products at local slaughterhouses in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. Materials and Methods: From January 2021 to March 2022, 558 samples from 279 cloacal swabs and breast meat were collected from 31 local slaughterhouses in the area. Then, the samples were screened for Enterococcus using modified de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar. Next, selected Gram-positive, catalase-negative, and cocci-shaped colonies were investigated for enterococcal confirmation using Enterococcosel Agar (EA). We also cultivated the samples directly on EA. However, the disk diffusion method was used to investigate positive Enterococcus resistance profiles to 16 antimicrobial agents. Finally, selected phenotypic multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterococcus isolates were further assessed to identify AMR genes by polymerase chain reaction. Results: Investigations showed that the prevalence of Enterococcus isolates from the chicken cloacal swabs and meat samples were 29.75% (83/279) and 28.32% (78/279), respectively. Most Enterococcus positive isolates were resistant to colistin, followed by cefoxitin, cephalexin, and streptomycin. These isolates also showed a prevalence of MDR species (65.22%; 105/161) and 66 patterns. Furthermore, selected MDR Enterococcus (MDRE) from cloacal swabs and breast meat were positive for the resistant extended-spectrum beta-lactamase TEM genes at 71.43% (20/28) and 78.26% (18/23), respectively, whereas other AMR genes detected in the selected MDR enterococci from the cloacal swabs and breast meat were beta-lactamase TEM (blaTEM [0%, 1.96%]), Class 1 integrase (intI1 [14.28%, 0%]), colistin (mrc–1 [3.57%, 0%]), and vancomycin (vanA [14.28%, 0%]). Conclusion: This study indicated that phenotypic MDRE correlated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase TEM gene presence, leading to an AMR reservoir that can be transferred to other bacteria.

Enterococci Isolated from One-Day-Old Chickens and Their Phenotypic Susceptibility to Antimicrobials in the Czech Republic

“…It is unequivocal that the prevalence of distinct species of enterococci, along with their levels of antimicrobial resistance and multiresistance, tends to correlate with the specific type of material and the kind of animals from which the strains are isolated [36][37][38][39][40]. In our study, the enterococci prevalence of 27.6% in one-day-old chickens is comparable to prior reports of 29.75% and 28.32% in broiler chickens [41] but remains relatively low when compared to the prevalence in wild animals [38]. This observed pattern could be influenced by various factors, including geographical and climatic regions, economic statuses, regional legislations, animal husbandry practices, and the rational utilization of antimicrobials, which manifests in the form of antimicrobial resistance in the captured strains [11,40,[42][43][44].…”

“…Some enterococci also act as opportunistic pathogens in birds. In Thailand in 2022, different species of enterococci were detected in cloacal swabs and chicken meat in 29.75% and 28.32% of cases, respectively [41]. In avian pathology, the most significant species are E. faecalis, Enterococcus cecorum, E. hirae, and E. durans.…”

Determination of the Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Associated with Poultry in Four Districts in Zambia

“…Another previous study [ 30 ] also reported a higher prevalence than that reported in the present study. Conversely, the prevalence rate in our study was higher than the rates reported in Ethiopia [ 31 ], Pakistan [ 32 ] and Thailand [ 33 ]. The differences in the isolation rates of Enterococci can be attributed to several factors, including antibiotic use, environmental factors and methodology.…”

Prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli from local and broiler chickens at Cibinong market, West Java, Indonesia

“…In addition, if antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the human body lead to infection and spread to other people, public health problems may occur. As a result, the treatment and healing process with certain antibiotics becomes ineffective [8].…”