Isolation and Identification of Aerobic Bacteria Carrying Tetracycline and Sulfonamide Resistance Genes Obtained from a Meat Processing Plant.
Microbial contamination in food-processing plants can play a fundamental role in food quality and safety. The purpose of this study was to investigate aerobic bacteria carrying tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes from a meat processing plant as possible sources of meat contamination. One hundred swab samples from surfaces of conveyor belts, meat slicers, meat knives, benches, plastic trays, gloves, and aprons were analyzed. A total of 168 isolates belonging to 10 genera were obtained, including Pseudomonas sp. (n = 35), Acinetobacter sp. (n = 30), Aeromonas sp. (n = 20), Myroides sp. (n = 15), Serratia sp. (n = 15), Staphylococcus sp. (n = 14), Enterobacter sp. (n = 11), Escherichia coli (n = 10), Lactococcus sp. (n = 10), and Klebsiella sp. (n = 8). Of the 168 isolates investigated, 60.7% showed resistance to tetracycline and 57.7% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The tetracycline resistance genes tetL, tetA, tetB, tetC, tetE, tetM, tetS, tetK, and tetX were found in the frequency of 7.7%, 6.0%, 4.8%, 4.8%, 3.6%, 3.6%, 3.6%, 1.2%, and 0.6%, respectively. Sulfonamide resistance genes sul1 and sul2 were observed in the frequency of 17.9% and 38.1%, respectively. The tetracycline resistance genes tetX was first found in Myroides sp. This investigation demonstrated that food contact surfaces in a meat processing plant may be sources of contamination of aerobic bacteria carrying tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotic resistance genes.
College of Light Industry and Food Sciences, South China Univ. of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, PR, China.
Lili
L
Li
China and Research Inst. of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jinan., Univ, 510632, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR, China.
Lei
L
Ye
College of Light Industry and Food Sciences, South China Univ. of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, PR, China.
Sen
S
Zhang
College of Light Industry and Food Sciences, South China Univ. of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, PR, China.
Hecheng
H
Meng
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D000077145:Sulfanilamide; D013424:Sulfanilamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance / Q000235:genetics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013424:Sulfanilamides; D000077145:Sulfanilamide; D013752:Tetracycline
aerobic bacteria; antibiotic resistance; meat processing plant; sulfonamide; tetracycline