Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella is detected more frequently in feed milling equipment than in raw feed components or processed animal feed

Persistence of microbiological hazards in food and feed production and processing environments

Listeria monocytogenes (in the meat, fish and seafood, dairy and fruit and vegetable sectors), Salmonella enterica (in the feed, meat, egg and low moisture food sectors) and Cronobacter sakazakii (in the low moisture food sector) were identified as the bacterial food safety hazards most relevant to public health that are associated with persistence in the food and feed processing environment (FFPE). There is a wide range of subtypes of these hazards involved in persistence in the FFPE. While some specific subtypes are more commonly reported as persistent, it is currently not possible to identify universal markers (i.e. genetic determinants) for this trait. Common risk factors for persistence in the FFPE are inadequate zoning and hygiene barriers; lack of hygienic design of equipment and machines; and inadequate cleaning and disinfection. A well-designed environmental sampling and testing programme is the most effective strategy to identify contamination sources and detect potentially persistent hazards. The establishment of hygienic barriers and measures within the food safety management system, during implementation of hazard analysis and critical control points, is key to prevent and/or control bacterial persistence in the FFPE. Once persistence is suspected in a plant, a 'seek-and-destroy' approach is frequently recommended, including intensified monitoring, the introduction of control measures and the continuation of the intensified monitoring. Successful actions triggered by persistence of L. monocytogenes are described, as well as interventions with direct bactericidal activity. These interventions could be efficient if properly validated, correctly applied and verified under industrial conditions. Perspectives are provided for performing a risk assessment for relevant combinations of hazard and food sector to assess the relative public health risk that can be associated with persistence, based on bottom-up and top-down approaches. Knowledge gaps related to bacterial food safety hazards associated with persistence in the FFPE and priorities for future research are provided.

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, phenotypic, and genotypic patterns of Salmonella enterica isolated from animal feedstuffs: Annual study

Background and Aim

Salmonellosis is a significant foodborne disease that causes serious illness in the gastrointestinal of humans and it is a public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to determine Salmonella spp. in animal feeds, its characteristic, serovar identification, genotyping, and drug sensitivity.

Materials and Methods

Salmonella spp. from animal feedstuffs was collected from January 1 to December 31, 2017, with 657 samples. Serogroup classification was performed by using the slide agglutination test. Then, the samples were analyzed for genotype patterns using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for DNA fingerprint and antibiotic sensitivity by Vitek® 2 techniques.

Results

A total of 80 samples (12.17 %) were found to be Salmonella positive; commercial feed compounds of 60 samples (75%); soybean meal of 10 samples (12.5%); pork meal of 5 samples (6.25%); a fish meal of three samples (3.75%) and poultry meal of 2 samples (2.5%). Serogroups B, C, D, and E were found in this study; 8 samples (10%), 39 samples (48.75%), 8 samples (10%), and 13 samples (16.25%), respectively. A total of 12 samples (15%) were not determined by serogrouping. The most common serovars were Salmonella Rissen (10%), Salmonella Mbandaka (8.75%), and Salmonella Livingstone (6.25%), which belong to serogroup C. Nine of eleven pulsotypes were detected when analyzed by PFGE, showed similarity index between 40.8 and 100 %. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests by Vitek® 2 compact for 11 strains were classified into three groups: resistance to 4, 8, and 11 antibiotics, out of 20 antibiotics.

Conclusion

This study revealed annual variation of Salmonella spp. Serovar, genotype, and phenotype from commercial feed compounds and raw materials of which involved people must be aware.