Occurrence of Campylobacter species from broiler chickens and chicken meat in Malaysia

Short Variable Regions flaA Gene (SVR-flaA) Diversity and Virulence Profile of Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter from Poultry and Poultry Meat in India

Human gastrointestinal infections caused by Campylobacter species is the second most important foodborne illness after salmonellosis worldwide. Poultry represent one of the main sources of Campylobacter organisms. In the present study, the short variable region of flagellin gene (SVR-flaA) typing was carried out to determine the variation among the circulating strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. The C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from poultry and poultry meat were screened for the presence of virulence determinants like cadF, flaA, cdtB, and wlaN gene. The screening for wlaN gene is crucial in view of the fact that most patients with Guillian Barre's (GB) syndrome with a preceding history of diarrheal illness have been found to harbor wlaN gene-positive C jejuni strains. Out of the 200 samples comprising poultry meat and cloacal swabs, 21.5% of samples were found to harbor Campylobacter spp. of which 2.5% were Campylobacter jejuni, and 19% were confirmed as Campylobacter coli. The cadF, flaA, cdtB virulence genes were detected in all the Campylobacter spp. isolated in the present study. The presence of the wlaN gene in the Campylobacter jejuni isolated in the present study may pose a public health threat with long-term human health implications. The SVR-flaA typing of twelve Campylobacter isolates obtained in the present study revealed that Campylobacter coli flaA sequence OL471375 is a new strain with a novel allele type 1,675 and peptide sequence 5 which stands deposited in pubMLST database for Campylobacter. The other flaA-SVR gene sequences identified in this study were OL471369, OL471370, OL471371, OL471372, OL471373, and OL471374. Among twelve Campylobacter spp., three distinct DdeI-RFLP patterns were observed, each varying in size from 100 to 1,000 base pairs. Antimicrobial profiling of the Campylobacter spp. isolated in the present study revealed that 50% of the strains were multidrug resistant. All the Campylobacter spp. were resistant to ciprofloxacin (CIP), ampicillin (AMP), penicillin (PEN), and nalidixic acid (NAL) whereas 57.1% of strains were resistant to tetracycline (TET) and erythromycin (ERY) 28% to amoxicillin (AMX) and enrofloxacin (ENO), 85% to amikacin (AMK). The high degree of resistance to fluoroquinolones observed in the present study is crucial in view of fluoroquinolones being drugs of choice for the treatment of human Campylobacter infections.

Quantifying Enteropathogen Contamination along Chicken Value Chains in Maputo, Mozambique: A Multidisciplinary and Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying High Exposure Settings

BACKGROUND

Small-scale poultry production is widespread and increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Exposure to enteropathogens in poultry feces increases the hazard of human infection and related sequela, and the burden of disease due to enteric infection in children < 5 y in particular is substantial. Yet, the containment and management of poultry-associated fecal waste in informal settings in LMICs is largely unregulated.

OBJECTIVES

To improve the understanding of potential exposures to enteropathogens carried by chickens, we used mixed methods to map and quantify microbial hazards along production value chains among broiler, layer, and indigenous chickens in Maputo, Mozambique.

METHODS

To map and describe the value chains, we conducted 77 interviews with key informants working in locations where chickens and related products are sold, raised, and butchered. To quantify microbial hazards, we collected chicken carcasses (n = 75 ) and fecal samples (n = 136 ) from chickens along the value chain and assayed them by qPCR for the chicken-associated bacterial enteropathogens C. jejuni/coli and Salmonella spp.

RESULTS

We identified critical hazard points along the chicken value chains and identified management and food hygiene practices that contribute to potential exposures to chicken-sourced enteropathogens. We detected C. jejuni/coli in 84 (76%) of fecal samples and 52 (84%) of carcass rinses and Salmonella spp. in 13 (11%) of fecal samples and 16 (21%) of carcass rinses. Prevalence and level of contamination increased as chickens progressed along the value chain, from no contamination of broiler chicken feces at the start of the value chain to 100% contamination of carcasses with C. jejuni/coli at informal markets. Few hazard mitigation strategies were found in the informal sector.

DISCUSSION

High prevalence and concentration of C. jejuni/coli and Salmonella spp. contamination along chicken value chains suggests a high potential for exposure to these enteropathogens associated with chicken production and marketing processes in the informal sector in our study setting. We identified critical control points, such as the carcass rinse step and storage of raw chicken meat, that could be intervened in to mitigate risk, but regulation and enforcement pose challenges. This mixed-methods approach can also provide a model to understand animal value chains, sanitary risks, and associated exposures in other settings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11761.

Bacterial Foodborne Illness in Malaysia: Terminalia spp. as a Potential Resource for Treating Infections and Countering Antibiotic Resistance

Acute diarrhoea is becoming a major public health problem in Malaysia, with more than 13.5 million cases reported annually. Foodborne bacterial pathogens are a predominant cause of diarrhoea, with infections causing prolonged illness durations and higher patient mortality rates, placing a tremendous burden on the Malaysian economy. Due to increasing incidences of diarrhoea in Malaysia caused by foodborne pathogens and the increasing levels of resistance towards antibiotics from many different classes, new drugs and/or therapies are urgently required. The evidence for plants as new sources of antibiotics has increased dramatically in recent years and there has been a substantial increase in interest in traditional and herbal medicines. Several Terminalia spp. are native to Malaysia, with previous research demonstrating that Terminalia spp. are rich in therapeutic phytochemicals and possess antibacterial properties. However, limited research has been conducted on the native Malaysian Terminalia spp. for their potential as new antibacterial therapies. The current review discusses the types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, that cause food poisoning in Malaysia, and reports the phytochemical content and antibacterial properties of eight of these useful plant species. Future directions pertaining to drug discovery pathways are also suggested.

Prevalence and Characterization of Campylobacter Species from Chickens Sold at Informal Chicken Markets in Gauteng, South Africa

ABSTRACT

This study determined the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of Campylobacter species contamination of chicken carcasses sold at informal poultry outlets in Gauteng province, South Africa. Within six townships, 151 chicken carcasses were collected from 47 outlets. Carcass swab, cloacal swab, and carcass drip samples were collected from each chicken, along with a matched questionnaire on risk factors regarding Campylobacter contamination. Sample-inoculated Bolton broth (BB) was cultured to isolate Campylobacter species by bacteriological methods. Subsequent confirmation and characterization of Campylobacter were conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Isolated Campylobacter strains were evaluated for the presence of six virulence genes (ciaB, dnaj, pldA, racR, flaA, and flaB), three toxin genes (cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC), and one antimicrobial resistance gene (tetO). The overall prevalence of Campylobacter was 23.4% (106 of 453), with sample type-specific prevalence being 17.2% (26 of 151), 25.8% (39 of 151), and 27.2% (41 of 151) for the carcass swabs, cloacal swabs, and carcass drip, respectively, following bacteriological isolation and confirmation by PCR. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter species was 93.5% by PCR, which varied significantly (P = 0.000) by sample: 99.2, 98.4, and 82.8% for carcass swabs, cloacal swabs, and carcass drip, respectively, by using PCR to detect Campylobacter in BB. Important risk factors for carcass contamination by Campylobacter included the slaughter of culled breeders and spent chickens, the use of stagnant water, and poor sanitation. Virulence and toxin gene frequencies were higher in C. jejuni-positive (82.5%) than in C. coli-positive (71.4%) BB cultures, but tetracycline resistance gene (tetO) frequency was higher in C. coli (75.9%) than in C. jejuni (48.10%). The observed high frequencies in C. jejuni recovered from street-vended chickens may pose food safety and therapeutic concerns to consumers.

HIGHLIGHTS

Current methodologies and future direction of Campylobacter isolation and detection from food matrices, clinical samples, and the agricultural environment

Campylobacter spp. are the leading cause of bacterial foodborne infections in both developed and developing countries. The food commodities primarily attributed to campylobacteriosis include raw milk, poultry, seafood, and fresh produce. Furthermore, insects, animal/bird fecal material, and agricultural water have been shown to be the sources of Campylobacter contamination in these commodities. Both established and emerging species of Campylobacter have been recovered from food and environmental sources. Therefore, optimal detection and isolation of Campylobacter spp., including the emerging species, is critical for improved surveillance, prevention, and traceback of Campylobacter outbreaks. This review focuses on the existing variability in Campylobacter enrichment and isolation procedures used by researchers and regulatory agencies worldwide, for various matrices. Additionally, the challenges associated with developing and validating new culture, molecular, and immunological methods for rapid and sensitive Campylobacter detection are discussed.

Comparison of transport crates contamination with Campylobacter spp. before and after the cleaning and disinfection procedure in broiler slaughterhouses

Campylobacteriosis is one of the most common types of bacterial gastroenteritis affecting humans, and poultry is considered a major source of the causative organism, Campylobacter spp. Broilers may arrive contaminated at slaughterhouses, and transport crates could be considered a potential source of contamination. Thus, cleaning and disinfection procedures are crucial to avoid cross-contamination among flocks. Despite its public health importance in Latin American countries, virulence factors of Campylobacter jejuni remain poorly studied in this region. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) determine the occurrence of contaminated crates at a poultry slaughterhouse, 2) compare the contamination before and after the cleaning and disinfection procedures, and 3) detect virulence-associated genes in C. jejuni strains by PCR. Campylobacter spp. were recovered from 8 of the 10 flocks evaluated, and C. jejuni was detected as the main species. There was no significant difference in the Campylobacter detection or quantification between crates at the reception platform and crates after the cleaning/disinfection processes. However, crates after 24 h of natural drying, presented a significant (P < 0.05) lower amount of Campylobacter cells than before the cleaning and disinfection processes. A negative relationship (R² = 0.210, P = 0.045) between environmental conditions and Campylobacter quantification was found for transport crates after 24 h of natural drying. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the detection of two C. jejuni virulence genes, flaA (encode a major flagellin protein) and cadF (encode an adhesion and fibronectin-binding protein), among various stages of the cleaning and disinfection processes. Our results demonstrate the high contamination levels of Campylobacter strains in broiler flocks and the potential involvement of poultry transport crates in transmitting these bacteria. This study also suggests that ineffective cleaning and disinfection procedures can increase Campylobacter contamination and facilitate the spread of bacteria in poultry establishments.

A Cutoff Determination of Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for End-Point Detection of Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken Meat

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness worldwide. C. jejuni is commonly found in poultry. It is the most frequent cause of contamination and thus resulting in not only public health concerns but also economic impacts. To test for this bacterial contamination in food processing plants, this study attempted to employ a simple and rapid detection assay called loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The best cutoff value for the positive determination of C. jejuni calculated using real-time LAMP quantification cycle (Cq) was derived from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve modeling. The model showed an area under curve (AUC) of 0.936 (95% Wald CI: 0.903–0.970). Based on Youden’s J statistic, the optimal cutoff value which had the highest sensitivity and specificity from the model was calculated as 18.07. The LAMP assay had 96.9% sensitivity, 95.8% specificity, and 93.9 and 97.9% positive and negative predictive values, respectively, compared to a standard culture approach for C. jejuni identification. Among all non-C. jejuni strains, the LAMP assay gave each of 12.5% false-positive results to C. coli and E. coli (1 out of 8 samples). The assay can detect C. jejuni at the lowest concentration of 103 CFU/mL. Our results suggest a preliminary indicator for the application of end-point LAMP assays, such as turbidity and UV fluorescence tests, to detect C. jejuni in field operations. The LAMP assay is an alternative screening test for C. jejuni contamination in food samples. The method provides a rapid detection, which requires only 9 min with a cutoff value of Cq. We performed the extraction of DNA from pure cultures and the detection of C. jejuni using the LAMP assay within 3 h. However, we were not able to reduce the time for the process of enrichment involved in our study. Therefore, we suggest that alternative enrichment media and rapid DNA extraction methods should be considered for further study. Compared to other traditional methods, our proposed assay requires less equipment and time, which is applicable at any processing steps in the food production chain.

Application of Lab-on-Chip for Detection of Microbial Nucleic Acid in Food and Environment

Various diseases caused by food-borne or environmental pathogenic microorganisms have been a persistent threat to public health and global economies. It is necessary to regularly detect microorganisms in food and environment to prevent infection of pathogenic microorganisms. However, most traditional detection methods are expensive, time-consuming, and unfeasible in practice in the absence of sophisticated instruments and trained operators. Point-of-care testing (POCT) can be used to detect microorganisms rapidly on site and greatly improve the efficiency of microbial detection. Lab-on-chip (LOC) is an emerging POCT technology with great potential by integrating most of the experimental steps carried out in the laboratory into a single monolithic device. This review will primarily focus on principles and techniques of LOC for detection of microbial nucleic acid in food and environment, including sample preparation, nucleic acid amplification and sample detection.

Enrichment Free qPCR for Rapid Identification and Quantification of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lari, and C. upsaliensis in Chicken Meat Samples by a New Couple of Primers

Campylobacter is the main cause of bacterial foodborne disease and poultry meat is the principal source of human infections. Rapid methods for Campylobacter detection are urgently needed to decrease high bacterial prevalence in poultry products. In this study, we developed new primers, CampyPFw and CampyPRv, that target the 16S-23S rRNA genes of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. upsaliensis. The primers were tested on positive and negative reference strains in pure cultures and in inoculated poultry meat samples before their application in real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol for analyzing chicken meat samples. In parallel, the samples were tested by using the ISO 10272-1:2006 method. The qPCR protocol based on CampyPFw and CampyPRv showed good sensitivity, with the limit of detection of 4.6 × 10² cells/mL in chicken samples without enrichment steps.

Sequential breast implant infections due to Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the leading causes of bacterial intestinal infections worldwide, while Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus (C. fetus) has been reported to cause extraintestinal infections, including medical device implant infections. However, breast implant infections have rarely been reported. We describe the case of a 64-year-old woman with breast implant infection and vertebral osteomyelitis due to C. fetus. The patient recovered by surgical removal of the infected left implant and was treated with antibiotics for 6 weeks. However, two weeks after the completion of antibiotics, she experienced an infection in the right implant due to C. fetus, which had developed quinolone resistance with a G91T mutation during the treatment course. This case showed that C. fetus can cause breast implant infections, and although the infection may appear to be unilateral initially, the possibility of sequential contralateral infection should be considered.

Prevalence, molecular typing and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter spp. isolates in northern Spain

AIM

To analyse the prevalence, genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter spp. in northern Spain.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Campylobacter was isolated from 139 samples of broiler meat and faecal dropping of broiler and swine with a prevalence of 35·4, 62 and 42·8%, respectively. Campylobacter jejuni (n = 55) and Campylobacter coli (n = 31) were identified by multiplex-PCR in meat, faeces and human clinical samples while Campylobacter fetus (n = 3) was exclusively detected in the latter. Fingerprinting by flaA-RFLP and PFGE revealed 68 different genotypes from the 89 isolates with a Biodiversity Simpson's index of 0·98. The 86·5% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, 85·4% to tetracycline and 49·4% to erythromycin; only three genotypes were susceptible to the three antimicrobial drugs. Multidrug resistance was detected in the 40·7% of the isolates.

CONCLUSIONS

Campylobacter remains prevalent in northern Spain with a high biodiversity degree. About 93·3% of the isolates were resistant to one or more drugs.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Although different measures are taken to control Campylobacter, the detection of isolates resistant to the drugs used in the treatment of campylobacteriosis is still high, including different species and genotypes. This evidences the need of additional strategies against this pathogen.

Applications of Electrolyzed Water as a Sanitizer in the Food and Animal-By Products Industry

Food demand is increasing every year and, usually animal-derived products are generated far from consumer-places. New technologies are being developed to preserve quality characteristics during processing and transportation. One of them is electrolyzed water (EW) that helps to avoid or decrease the development of foodborne pathogens, or losses by related bacteria. Initially, EW was used in ready-to-eat foods such as spinach, lettuce, strawberries, among others; however, its application in other products is under study. Every product has unique characteristics that require an optimized application of EW. Different sanitizers have been developed; unfortunately, they could have undesirable effects like deterioration of quality or alterations in sensory properties. Therefore, EW is gaining popularity in the food industry due to its characteristics: easy application and storage, no corrosion of work surfaces, absence of mucosal membrane irritation in workers handling food, and it is considered environmentally friendly. This review highlights the advantages of using EW in animal products like chicken, pork, beef, eggs and fish to preserve their safety and quality.

Okoh A. Campylobacteriosis Agents in Meat Carcasses Collected from Two District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Raw meats are sometimes contaminated with Campylobacter species from animal faeces, and meats have repeatedly been implicated in foodborne infections. This study evaluated the prevalence, virulence genes, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and resistance gene determinants in Campylobacter species isolated from retailed meat carcasses. A total of 248 raw meat samples were collected from butcheries, supermarkets, and open markets; processed for enrichment in Bolton broth; and incubated at 42 °C for 48 h in 10% CO2. Thereafter, the broths were streaked on modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) plates and incubated at the same conditions and for the same amount of time. After incubation, colonies were isolated and confirmed by Polymerase chain reaction using specific oligonucleotide sequences used for the identification of the genus Campylobacter, species, and their virulence markers. The patterns of antimicrobial resistance profiles of the identified isolates were studied by disk diffusion method against 12 antibiotics, and relevant resistance genes were assessed by PCR. From culture, 845 presumptive Campylobacter isolates were obtained, of which 240 (28.4%) were identified as genus Campylobacter. These were then characterised into four species, of which C. coli had the highest prevalence rate (22.08%), followed by C. jejuni (16.66%) and C. fetus (3.73%). The virulence genes detected included iam (43.14%), cadF (37.25%), cdtB (23.53%), flgR (18.63%), and flaA (1.96%), and some of the isolates co-harboured two to four virulence genes. Of the 12 antibiotics tested, the highest phenotypic resistance displayed by Campylobacter isolates was against clindamycin (100%), and the lowest level of resistance was observed against imipenem (23.33%). The frequency of resistance genes detected included catll (91.78%), tetA (68.82%), gyra (61.76%), ampC (55%), aac(3)-IIa (aacC2)a (40.98%), tetM (38.71%), ermB (18.29%), tetB (12.90%), and tetK (2.15%). There is a high incidence of Campylobacter species in meat carcasses, suggesting these to be a reservoir of campylobacteriosis agents in this community, and as such, consumption of undercooked meats in this community is a potential health risk to consumers.