Screening for Antimicrobial Resistance in some Pathogens isolated from Cold Smoked Fish Marketed in Menofiya Government

Abstract

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Salmonella species, E. coli and listeria species were isolated conventionally from ninety cold smoked fish (Herring, Clupea), from souk and markets in Menofiya province, Egypt. The Coliform Count was significantly higher (P <0 .05) in souk than markets with mean counts of 4.07± 0.23 and 3.13± 0.40 Log CFU/gm. The overall prevalence of Salmonella sp. was 2.2% (2/90), and all of them were detected from a souk samples, while E. coli isolates were 13.3% (12/90), but, Listeria spp. failed to be detected in tested samples. Conventionally, Salmonella spp. were phenotypically resistant to three, Cefozon, E-Moxclave, and Clindamycin, of 8 commonly used antibiotics in Egypt. Whilst, E.coli strain showed resistance to Cefozon, Gentamicin, Cefotaxime, Doxycycline, E-Moxclave, and Clindamycin. A multi-resistance was observed in one Salmonella strain, and in 83.3% (5/6) of tested E. coli strain. Further, the molecular results showed that all isolated salmonella (n=2) and E. coli (n=6) strains contained the beta-lactam resistance genes, blaTEM detected in the 8 isolates (100%). On the other hand, one of two salmonella isolates and two of six E. coli strain were positive for erm(B) (erythromycin ribosome methylase) genes. This study may be the first report on antimicrobial resistant Salmonella species, Escherichia coli and listeria species in cold smoked fish (Herring, Clupea) marketed in Egypt.