Genetic diversity, antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming ability of Arcobacter butzleri isolated from poultry and environment from a Portuguese slaughterhouse.
The genus Arcobacter is an emerging pathogen associated with several clinical symptoms. This genus is widely distributed and has been isolated from environmental, animal, food and human samples, where poultry is considered the major source. In this study, forty three Arcobacter butzleri strains isolated from poultry and environment of a Portuguese slaughterhouse, were characterized by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility and ability to form biofilms. PFGE patterns obtained using restriction enzymes SmaI and SacII revealed high genetic diversity, with 32 distinct PFGE patterns. Most of A. butzleri isolates presented multiple antimicrobial resistance, exhibiting four different resistance profiles. All 43 isolates were susceptible to gentamicin and 2.3% were resistant to chloramphenicol, in contrast to twenty four (55.8%) that were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Among 36 selected isolates, 26 strains presented biofilm-forming ability, which was dependent on the atmosphere and initial inoculum density. Overall, the results showed that A. butzleri displays a high genetic diversity, and presents resistance to several antibiotics, which together with its biofilm formation ability may represent a potential hazard for foodborne infections and a considerable risk for human health.
CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
Susana
S
Ferreira
Maria J
MJ
Fraqueza
João A
JA
Queiroz
Fernanda C
FC
Domingues
Mónica
M
Oleastro
D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011200:Poultry
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents