Bacterial Pathogens in the Food Industry: Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Factors of <em>Salmonella enterica</em> Strains Isolated from Food Chain Links
Michał Wójcicki,
Agnieszka Chmielarczyk,
Olga Świder,
Paulina Średnicka,
Magdalena Strus,
Tomasz Kasperski,
Dziyana Shymialevich,
Hanna Cieślak,
Paulina Emanowicz,
Monika Kowalczyk,
Barbara Sokołowska,
Edyta Juszczuk-Kubiak
Affiliations
Michał Wójcicki
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Agnieszka Chmielarczyk
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121 Cracow, Poland
Olga Świder
Department of Food Safety and Chemical Analysis, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Paulina Średnicka
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Magdalena Strus
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121 Cracow, Poland
Tomasz Kasperski
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121 Cracow, Poland
Dziyana Shymialevich
Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Hanna Cieślak
Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Paulina Emanowicz
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Monika Kowalczyk
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Barbara Sokołowska
Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Edyta Juszczuk-Kubiak
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland
Salmonella is one of the most important foodborne pathogens. Fifty-three strains of Salmonella deposited in the Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center (IAFB) were identified using molecular and proteomic analyses. Moreover, the genetic similarity of the tested strains was determined using the PFGE method. Main virulence genes were identified, and phenotypical antibiotic susceptibility profiles and prevalence of resistance genes were analyzed. Subsequently, the occurrence of the main mechanisms of β-lactam resistance was determined. Virulence genes, invA, fimA, and stn were identified in all tested strains. Phenotypic tests, including 28 antibiotics, showed that 50.9% of the strains were MDR. The tet genes associated with tetracyclines resistance were the most frequently identified genes. Concerning the genes associated with ESBL-producing Salmonella, no resistance to the TEM and CTX-M type was identified, and only two strains (KKP 1597 and KKP 1610) showed resistance to SHV. No strains exhibited AmpC-type resistance but for six Salmonella strains, the efflux-related resistance of PSE-1 was presented. The high number of resistant strains in combination with multiple ARGs in Salmonella indicates the possible overuse of antibiotics. Our results showed that it is necessary to monitor antimicrobial resistance profiles in all food chain links constantly and to implement a policy of proper antibiotic stewardship to contain or at least significantly limit the further acquisition of antibiotic resistance among Salmonella strains.
