Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in chicken and bovine meat in Italy: Prevalence, level of contamination and molecular characterization of isolates

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225957
• Publication Date: 2019-12-06T18:29:06Z
• Authors: Elisabetta Di Gia...; Paolo Calistri; Guido Di Donato; Lucia Decastelli; Elisa Goffredo; Daniela Adriano; Maria Emanuela Ma...; Annamaria Gallegg...; Diana Neri; Salvatore Antoci; Cristina Marfoglia; Francesca Marotta; Roberta Nuvoloni; Giacomo Migliorati
• Keywords: Multilocus sequence typing; Campylobacter coli; Molecular Epidemiology; Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacter species are common foodborne pathogens associated with cases of human gastroenteritis worldwide. A detailed understanding the prevalence, contamination levels and molecular characteristics spp. in cattle chicken, which likely most important sources contamination, is imperative. collection 1243 poultry meat samples (665 chicken breasts 578 thighs) 1203 bovine (689 hamburgers 514 knife-cut preparations) were collected at retail outlets, randomly selected supermarkets located different Italian regions during one year. Of these samples, 17.38% 0.58% tested positive for Campylobacter, 131 jejuni (57.96%) 95 coli (42.03%). isolates genotyped aim assessing genetic diversity, population structure, source distribution transmission route to humans. All molecularly characterized by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), further using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) fla-SVR sequencing gain better insight into structure. Antibiotic resistance was also investigate. The highest among strains observed ciprofloxacin (88.25%), nalidixic acid (81.45%) tetracycline (75.6%). PFGE analysis revealed 73 pulsotypes C. 54 coli, demonstrating existance specific clones circulating Italy. MLST C.jejuni mainly clustered CC353, CC354, CC21, CC206 CC443; while C.coli only CC828. flaA alleles 287 66 coli. Our study confirms that main Campylobacteriosis, whereas red had a low level suggesting minor role transmission. high presence meat, paired its increased antimicrobials several multidrug profiles detected, alarming represents persistent threat public health.