Serotype Occurrence, Virulence Profiles, Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Characterization of <i>Salmonella</i> Isolated from Hospitalized Patients with Gastroenteritis in Great Tunisia between 2010 and 2020
Walid Oueslati,
Mohamed Ridha Rjeibi,
Hayet Benyedem,
Mounir Jebali,
Fatma Souissi,
Rachid Selmi,
Mohamed Sélim El Asli,
Farouk Barguellil,
Abdelfettah Ettriqui
Affiliations
Walid Oueslati
Laboratory of Management of Animal Production’s Health and Quality, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Mohamed Ridha Rjeibi
Laboratory of Parasitology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Hayet Benyedem
Laboratory of Parasitology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Mounir Jebali
Laboratory of Management of Animal Production’s Health and Quality, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Fatma Souissi
Laboratory of Management of Animal Production’s Health and Quality, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Rachid Selmi
Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Mohamed Sélim El Asli
Laboratory of Microorganisms and Environment, Molecular Diagnostic Tools and Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections, Military Hospital of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
Farouk Barguellil
Laboratory of Microorganisms and Environment, Molecular Diagnostic Tools and Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections, Military Hospital of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
Abdelfettah Ettriqui
Laboratory of Management of Animal Production’s Health and Quality, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Non-typhoid Salmonella is one of the major causes of food-borne infections worldwide. The aim of the current study is to determine the serotype occurrence, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolated from hospitalized patients. The identification of Salmonella strains was performed according to REMIC, 2018. The susceptibility of Salmonella isolates was assessed against 20 antimicrobials using the disk diffusion method. Some virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were identified using PCR. Among the 61 isolated Salmonella strains, seven serotypes were identified and all were positive for the virulence genes invA, mgtC and sirA. Critical resistance rates (>40%) were detected for tetracycline, nalidixic acid, amoxicillin and fluoroquinolones. However, resistances to ertapenem, ceftazidim, aztreonam and colistin were null. In addition, 33% of the isolated strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Moreover, 80% and 60% of S. Kentucky isolates were identified as fluoroquinolone-resistant and MDR strains, respectively. The qnrB gene was amplified in 63.2% of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. The dfrA1 gene was identified in 20% (4/20) of the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistant strains and the integrase Class 2 gene was amplified in only 8.2% (5/61) of the isolates. Our findings highlight the emergence of MDR Salmonella isolates. A rationalization of antimicrobial use is urgently recommended in both human and veterinary medicine.
