title: Prevalence, phenotypic and genetic diversity of Campylobacter in poultry fresh meat and poultry products on retail sale in Tuscany (Italy).
abstract: In this study, the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry fresh meat and ready‑to‑cook products was evaluated. Seventy‑three samples were collected at retail level from supermarkets and discount stores, obtaining 61.6% positivity. Of 133 Campylobacter isolates, 86 strains (Campylobacter coli, 58.1% and Campylobacter jejuni, 41.9%) were selected for characterisation on the basis of their SmaI and kpnI pulsed field gel‑electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles, to exclude clonal replicates. Campylobacters resulted highly resistant to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid (79.1%, 72.1% and 65.1%, respectively); 50% of C. coli and 13.9% of C. jejuni were resistant to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, the most important antimicrobials for human campylobacteriosis therapy. Five C. coli were resistant to 5/7 of the tested antimicrobials. HS4c was the prevailing C. jejuni serotype group (22.3%), whereas 8 other serotypes were identified in low percentages. SmaI and kpnI profiles showed a wide variability. The survey showed a high Campylobacter contamination of poultry meat and poultry products at retail level in Tuscany, Italy. A wide strains' heterogeneity and a remarkable level of strains' antimicrobial resistance have been reported, confirming the need for an improvement of specific preventive measures along the production chain.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedonese
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuvoloni
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turchi
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torracca
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Giannatale
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cerri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003132:Commerce; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011200:Poultry / Q000382:microbiology; D011202:Poultry Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents