Prevalence, resistance to antimicrobials, and antibiotypes of Arcobacter species recovered from retail meat in Wasit marketplaces in Iraq

Abstract

Background and Aim: Arcobacter is a food-borne pathogen associated with human and animal infections. In Iraq, these infections and their adverse effects on public health have not been well investigated. For this reason, as well as to submit data on the resistance to antimicrobials and antibiotypes of the Arcobacter spp. and their occurrence in retail meat in the Wasit marketplaces, this study was undertaken. Materials and Methods: A total of 83 samples of fresh raw (n=35) and chilled meat (n=48) were purchased randomly from marketplaces in various regions of the Wasit Governorate. Bacterial detection was conducted using cultural methods, biochemical analysis, and the Oxoid Biomedical Identification System Campy. Confirmation of these bacteria at the species level was performed using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction method. Susceptibility of the Arcobacter spp. to antimicrobials was investigated in 11 isolates comprising Arcobacter butzleri (n=9) and Arcobacter cryaerophilus (n=2) using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: A total of 32 (38.6%) of the 83 fresh raw and chilled meat samples tested positive for Arcobacter spp.; of those, 27 (84.4%) and 5 (15.6%) were recognized as A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus, respectively. Maximum resistance was perceived, respectively, to tetracycline, erythromycin, and ampicillin (90.9%, 81.8%, and 81.8%, respectively). In contrast, a low resistance rate against fluoroquinolones up to 9.09% was found. Antibiograms of the A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus isolates yielded ten antibiotypes. The vast majority of the isolates (90.91%) were resistant to no fewer than three classes of antimicrobials, and 27.3% of these showed resistance to six antibiotics. A total of 91% of the analyzed isolates had a multiple antibiotic resistance index score between 0.27 and 0.73. Conclusion: Our outcomes demonstrated that retail meat can be a prospective vehicle for pathogenic Arcobacter, making these products a possible risk to human health. Our outcomes postulate that the contamination of retail meats by pathogenic Arcobacter is a global public health concern, particularly with the growing resistance to life-saving drugs, and emphasizes consumer understanding about the quality and safety of these products. To achieve healthy food products, good management practices, and successful control approaches must be implemented across the entire food chain, not only to protect consumers from these contaminants but also to minimize the risk of drug resistance.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium isolated from retail chicken meat in Wasit markets, Iraq

“…The previous studies in Iraq confirmed this relationship by investigating the MDR phenomenon in many foodborne pathogens [ 21 , 48 – 51 ]. Other studies in Iraq also pointed to wrong practices regarding the abuse and misuse of antibiotics, which drove the exacerbation of this phenomenon [ 52 – 54 ]. Accordingly, these results highlighted the importance of preventing antibiotic overuse in reducing the MDR of Salmonella spp.…”

Effect of biofilm formation in a hostile oxidative stress environment on the survival of Campylobacter jejuni recovered from poultry in Iraqi markets

“…Due to the prevalence of these diseases, there has been a push for developing better sterilizing techniques for meat [18]. In Iraq, there is not as much research on C. jejuni infections as there is on other foodborne bacteria [19][20][21][22][23]. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct more studies on this pathogen, especially due to the large consumption of poultry meat, which is the primary source of campylobacteriosis.…”

Knowledge, attitude, and hygiene practices of food handlers related to food safety in Al-Suwaira City, Wasit Province in Iraq

“…The mindset of those who work with food also influences how they do their jobs [8]. Multiple investigations conducted in Iraq have found evidence of food contamination with dangerous FBDs [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. As workers in the food industry play a crucial role in food contamination and FBDs, studying the KAP of food safety among this population is important.…”