Dissemination of a multidrug resistant CTX-M-65 producer Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis clone between marketed chicken meat and children

The objective of the present study was to characterize Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis isolated from chicken meat determining their clonal relationships with S. Infantis isolated from children with diarrhea. Fifteen meat-recovered S. Infantis were analyzed. Susceptibility levels to 14 antibacterial agents, the presence of ESBL and that of inducible plasmid-mediated AmpC (i-pAmpC) were determined by phenotypical methods. The presence of ESBL and pAmpC was confirmed by PCR, and detected ESBL-encoding genes were sequenced and their transferability tested by conjugation. The presence of gyrA mutations as well as Class 1 integrons was determined by PCR. Clonal relationships were established by REP-PCR and RAPD. In addition, 25 clinical isolates of S. Infantis were included in clonality studies. All meat-recovered S. Infantis were MDR, showing resistance to ampicillin, nitrofurans and quinolones, while none was resistant to azithromycin, ceftazidime or imipenem. ESBL (bla(CTX-M-65)) and i-pAmpC (bla(DHA)) were detected in 2 and 5 isolates respectively (in one case concomitantly), with bla(CTX-M-65) being transferable through conjugation. In addition, 1 isolate presented a bla(SHV) gene. All isolates presented D87Y at GyrA, nalidixic acid active efflux pump and a Class 1 integron of similar to 1000 bp (aadA1). Clonal analysis showed that all isolates were related. Further they were identical to MDR bla(CTX-M-65)-producing S. Infantis isolates causing children diarrhea in Lima. The dissemination of MDR bla(CTX-M-65)-producing S. Infantis between marketed meat and children highlights a public health problem which needs be controlled at livestock level.

Automated summary

This study aimed to characterize Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis isolated from chicken meat and found that these bacteria were multidrug-resistant, with clonal relationships to S. Infantis causing diarrhea in children. The dissemination of MDR S. Infantis between marketed meat and children highlights a public health problem that needs to be controlled at the livestock level.