Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Foodborne Pathogens from Raw Livestock Meat in China, 2021

Xiang Ren; Dajin Yang; Zushun Yang; Ying Li; Shuran Yang; Weiwei Li; Xin Qiao; Chengyu Xue; Min Chen; Limin Zhang; Lin Yan; Zixin Peng

doi:10.3390/microorganisms12112157

Microorganisms (Oct 2024)

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Foodborne Pathogens from Raw Livestock Meat in China, 2021

Xiang Ren,
Dajin Yang,
Zushun Yang,
Ying Li,
Shuran Yang,
Weiwei Li,
Xin Qiao,
Chengyu Xue,
Min Chen,
Limin Zhang,
Lin Yan,
Zixin Peng

Affiliations

Xiang Ren: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China
Dajin Yang: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China
Zushun Yang: Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming 650000, China
Ying Li: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China
Shuran Yang: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China
Weiwei Li: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China
Xin Qiao: Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Chengyu Xue: Heilongjiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin 150030, China
Min Chen: Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming 650000, China
Limin Zhang: Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming 650000, China
Lin Yan: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China
Zixin Peng: NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112157
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 11
p. 2157

Abstract

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The rising prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in livestock meat poses a growing public health concern in China. The determination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is critical for the clinical management of foodborne infections stemming from livestock meat consumption. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in livestock meat (pork, beef, and mutton) sampled in China in 2021 and to identify the most common AMR patterns among the isolated pathogens. A total of 2515 raw livestock meat samples were collected across 15 provinces in China during 2021. Pathogen detection, including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC), followed China’s national food safety standards. All Salmonella isolates underwent serotyping via slide agglutination. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and DEC isolates was assessed using the broth dilution method. The detection rates for L. monocytogenes, Salmonella, and DEC in raw livestock meat were 9.06% (228/2, 515), 10.54% (265/2, 515), and 6.16% (155/2, 515), respectively. Pork showed the highest contamination rates for Salmonella and DEC, with prevalence rates of 17.60% (214/1, 216, χ2 = 124.62, p p L. monocytogenes contamination was notably higher in chilled (14.43%, 84/582) and frozen (12.39%, 55/444) meat than in fresh meat (χ2 = 43.510, p Salmonella (12.09%, 180/1489, χ2 = 15.173, p p Salmonella serotypes identified were Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, followed by Salmonella enterica serovar Derby, Salmonella enterica serovar Rissen, Salmonella enterica serovar London, and Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis. Enteroaggregative E. coli was the most frequent pathotype among DEC (84.7%, 133/157), followed by enteropathogenic E. coli (8.3%, 13/157) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (5.1%, 8/157). Among the 14 tested antimicrobial agents, Salmonella isolates demonstrated an overall resistance rate of 87.50%, while DEC exhibited a resistance rate of 84.70%. Ampicillin and tetracycline showed the highest resistance rates in both pathogens. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was observed in 67.53% of Salmonella isolates (183 isolates) and 57.96% of DEC isolates (91 isolates). This study highlights the significant contamination of retail raw livestock meat in China by L. monocytogenes, Salmonella, and DEC. The high resistance of MDR in both pathogens poses serious public health risks. Chinese food safety and veterinary authorities should implement stricter measures to control pathogen contamination and regulate the use of antimicrobials in livestock to mitigate these risks.

Published in Microorganisms

ISSN: 2076-2607 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms

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