Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 and Non-O157 Serogroups Isolated from Fresh Raw Beef Meat Samples in an Industrial Slaughterhouse

Transforming Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli surveillance through whole genome sequencing in food safety practices

Introduction

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a gastrointestinal pathogen causing foodborne outbreaks. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in STEC surveillance holds promise in outbreak prevention and confinement, in broadening STEC epidemiology and in contributing to risk assessment and source attribution. However, despite international recommendations, WGS is often restricted to assist outbreak investigation and is not yet fully implemented in food safety surveillance across all European countries, in contrast to for example in the United States.

Methods

In this study, WGS was retrospectively applied to isolates collected within the context of Belgian food safety surveillance and combined with data from clinical isolates to evaluate its benefits. A cross-sector WGS-based collection of 754 strains from 1998 to 2020 was analyzed.

Results

We confirmed that WGS in food safety surveillance allows accurate detection of genomic relationships between human cases and strains isolated from food samples, including those dispersed over time and geographical locations. Identifying these links can reveal new insights into outbreaks and direct epidemiological investigations to facilitate outbreak management. Complete WGS-based isolate characterization enabled expanding epidemiological insights related to circulating serotypes, virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance across different reservoirs. Moreover, associations between virulence genes and severe disease were determined by incorporating human metadata into the data analysis. Gaps in the surveillance system were identified and suggestions for optimization related to sample centralization, harmonizing isolation methods, and expanding sampling strategies were formulated.

Discussion

This study contributes to developing a representative WGS-based collection of circulating STEC strains and by illustrating its benefits, it aims to incite policymakers to support WGS uptake in food safety surveillance.

Cefotaxime-, Ciprofloxacin-, and Extensively Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 in Camel Meat

The present study aimed to explore for the first time the occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 isolates in camel meat in Egypt. Among the 110 camel meat samples examined using standardized microbiological techniques, 10 (9.1%) and 32 (29.1%) were positive for E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O55:H7, respectively. In total, 24 isolates were verified as E. coli O157:H7, while 102 isolates were confirmed serologically as E. coli O55:H7. Multiplex PCR revealed the existence of eaeA, stx1, stx2, and EHEC-hlyA among E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 isolates (n = 126) at various percentages. According to their resistance against 14 antibiotics, 16.7% and 83.3% of O157:H7 isolates and 8.6% and 76.5% of O55:H7 isolates were classified into extensively drug-resistant and multi-drug-resistant, respectively, whereas 29.4% and 22.2% of E. coli isolates were resistant to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin, respectively. The study results emphasize that camel meat may be a vehicle for multi- and extensively drug-resistant E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 strains, indicating a potential threat to public health. Further studies based on the molecular evidence of the antimicrobial resistance genes and enrolling a larger number of samples are recommended for a better understanding of the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon of camel-meat-originating pathogenic E. coli strains.

The Importance of the Slaughterhouse in Surveilling Animal and Public Health: A Systematic Review

From the point of public health, the objective of the slaughterhouse is to guarantee the safety of meat in which meat inspection represent an essential tool to control animal diseases and guarantee the public health. The slaughterhouse can be used as surveillance center for livestock diseases. However, other aspects related with animal and human health, such as epidemiology and disease control in primary production, control of animal welfare on the farm, surveillance of zoonotic agents responsible for food poisoning, as well as surveillance and control of antimicrobial resistance, can be monitored. These controls should not be seen as a last defensive barrier but rather as a complement to the controls carried out on the farm. Regarding the control of diseases in livestock, scientific research is scarce and outdated, not taking advantage of the potential for disease control. Animal welfare in primary production and during transport can be monitored throughout ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse, providing valuable individual data on animal welfare. Surveillance and research regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at slaughterhouses is scarce, mainly in cattle, sheep, and goats. However, most of the zoonotic pathogens are sensitive to the antibiotics studied. Moreover, the prevalence at the slaughterhouse of zoonotic and foodborne agents seems to be low, but a lack of harmonization in terms of control and communication may lead to underestimate its real prevalence.

Knowledge, Hygienic Practices, and Toxi-Infectious Risks Associated with Ready-to-Eat Gbeli: A Particular Chip Derived from Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Tuber Vended in Streets of Abomey-Calavi Municipality, Benin

The lack of regulations relating to street food remains a real problem in most developing countries. To remedy this, it is essential to have reliable data on the actors and the conditions of streed food activity. The present study is aimed at (i) establishing the sociodemographic profile of producers and vendors of Gbeli in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, (ii) developing the technical production diagram and assessing the adoption level of good hygienic practices during the production and sale of Gbeli, and finally, (iv) evaluating the microbiological contamination risks associated with Gbeli consumption. Direct observations followed by a semistructured survey on 92 Gbeli vendors were carried out in Abomey-Calavi municipality. A Gbeli sample was collected from each vendor for microbiological analyses according to standard microbiology analytical techniques. Forty vendors were assisted during Gbeli production. The results showed that the production and sale of Gbeli are activities carried out solely by women (100%), mostly adults (97.82%) and unschooled (58.69%). This trade generates income allowing the vendors to contribute to their household expenses and to save. No major difference was noted in the production process of Gbeli contrary to the sale modes (stationary, itinerant, and mixed). Production process, packaging form, and sale condition of Gbeli present enormous hygienic practice deficiencies. Some corrective measures were thus suggested. About 56% of Gbeli samples analyzed were microbiologically not up to standard. The prevalence and abundance of mycotoxinogenic molds, thermotolerant coliforms, and coagulase-positive Staphylococci in these chips are very worrying. The consumption of Gbeli therefore exposes its consumers to a permanent risk of food poisoning. Training of Gbeli vendors on good hygiene and production practices is indispensable.

Sorbitol non-fermenting Escherichia coli and E. coli O157: prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of strains in slaughtered food animals in Southeast Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest global health challenges. Reliable monitoring of AMR in bacteria in food animals is critical in order to devise mitigation strategies and empiric treatment of infections associated with the organisms. The aim of this study was to isolate sorbitol non-fermenting (SN-F) Escherichia coli from food animals (broiler chickens, cattle and pigs) slaughtered at Ikpa Market, Nsukka, Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, detect E. coli O157 and determine the in vitro antimicrobial resistance profile of the E. coli strains. A total of 388 faecal samples were collected from randomly selected broiler chickens (n=155), cattle (n=129) and pigs (n=104). Isolation of SN-F E. coli was done using tryptic soy broth and cefixime- and potassium tellurite-supplemented sorbitol MacConkey agar (CT-SMAC). SN-F E. coli strains were confirmed biochemically and E. coli O157 detected serologically using specific E. coli O157 latex agglutination test kit. The antimicrobial resistance profile of all strains was established using the disc diffusion method. Overall, 52 (13.4 %) SN-F E. coli strains were recovered from the broiler chickens (n=31), cattle (n=12) and pigs (n=9). A significant association (χ2=9.70; P <0.05) was observed between the prevalence of SN-F E. coli and animal species. E. coli O157 was detected in two of the samples, representing 0.51% of the 388 samples processed. All the E. coli strains were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent tested and 76% were multidrug resistant (MDR). The mean multiple antibiotic resistance indices (MARI) for isolates from chickens, cattle and pig were 0.32, 0.18 and 0.23, respectively. This study showed that a considerable percentage of food animals slaughtered in Nsukka Southeastern Nigeria are potential reservoirs of multiple-drug-resistant SN-F E. coli, including E. coli O157 that could spread to humans and the environment.