Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Foodborne Pathogens

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2024) | Viewed by 12122

Special Issue Editors

Agricultural Research Station, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA, USA
Interests: food safety and quality; foodborne pathogens; antimicrobial resistance; probiotics; pulsed field gel electrophoresis; essential oils; internet market; farmers' market; food desert; thermal and non-thermal technologies
Agricultural Research Station, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA, USA
Interests: epidemiology of diseases of economic and public health importance in farm animals under one health approach; alternative strategies for maintaining health and growth performance in farm animals (probiotics, and plants with bioactive compounds) and vaccine development; biological, biomedical, molecular, and animal sciences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last 2 years, the COVID pandemic has affected public health and has predominated our attention. On the other hand, millions of foodborne diseases and hundreds of thousands of deaths caused by foodborne pathogens continue to occur every year. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths each year worldwide. In addition, antibiotic use in humans and in the agricultural industry has led to the widespread dissemination of bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobials. Millions of infections associated with antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria impact the wellbeing of humans and animals globally.

In recent years, acquiring agricultural products directly from producers through farmers’ markets, the Internet, roadside stands, and other venues has been increased due to the growing number of consumers in developed countries. In many developing countries, however, this marketing strategy remains a major source of food products for many households.

While a majority of food safety studies have been focused on fresh produce and meat products, there are other value-added products (i.e., animal treats, herbs, dressings, and exotic foods) that are offered by producers. Additionally, the prevalence of foodborne pathogens (i.e., Campylobacter, Listeria, and Salmonella) and hygiene indicator bacteria (i.e., E. coli) associated with value-added products have been reported. However, there has been controversy over a known assumption that commodities with the presence of E. coli indicate a possible presence of harmful, disease-causing microorganisms.

Therefore, the overall focus and scope of this Special Issue will highlight the assessment of the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens associated with fresh and value-added products obtained via different marketing venues. The purpose of the Special Issue is for researchers and educators to use this information to develop and disseminate food safety and hygiene awareness training and educational programs for stakeholders, including producers, processors, vendors, store managers, and consumers worldwide. In addition, this information will contribute to awareness by food producers and consumers and will translate into the judicious and careful use of antimicrobials in human and agricultural practices to help reduce the development of multi-drug-resistant bacteria.

How the issue will be situated within the existing literature.

There are clear gaps in the extent of the burden of food safety pathogens and in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in direct-marketed food products. There is also a lack of vendor knowledge and a lack of understanding of the food safety risks associated with foodborne pathogens and AMR in our environment. Little is known about the food safety and microbiological implications associated with different sales venues. This Special Issue is designed to our increase knowledge of the microbial ecology of foodborne pathogens with regard to the routes of contamination and dissemination as well as the prevalence of AMR. Utilizing conventional and molecular methods, addressing the issues mentioned above will fill knowledge gaps in the areas of food safety. Correlation studies on the most commonly found fecal contamination (hygiene) indicating bacteria (E. coli) and on the prevalence of foodborne pathogens account for the vast majority of foodborne illnesses associated with food products and would situate this issue as an additional niche.

Dr. Chyer Kim
Dr. Eunice Ndegwa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • foodborne pathogens
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • direct market food sale
  • value-added products
  • fresh produce
  • E. coli
  • Campylobacter
  • Listeria
  • Salmonella
  • food safety training and education

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 469 KiB  
Communication
Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Salmonella Serovars Recovered from Retail Poultry Offal in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
by Lindokuhle Ndlovu, Patrick Butaye, Tsolanku. S. Maliehe, Kudakwashe Magwedere, Bongi B. Mankonkwana, Albertus K. Basson, Siyanda. S. Ngema and Evelyn Madoroba
Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 641; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens12050641 - 25 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1581
Abstract
As poultry organ meat is widely consumed, especially in low- and middle-income countries, there is reason to investigate it as a source of Salmonella infections in humans. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, serotypes, virulence factors and antimicrobial [...] Read more.
As poultry organ meat is widely consumed, especially in low- and middle-income countries, there is reason to investigate it as a source of Salmonella infections in humans. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, serotypes, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from chicken offal from retail outlets in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Samples (n = 446) were cultured for the detection of Salmonella using ISO 6579-1:2017. Presumptive Salmonella were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Salmonella isolates were serotyped using the Kauffmann–White–Le Minor scheme and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion technique. A conventional PCR was used for the detection of Salmonella invA, agfA, lpfA and sivH virulence genes. Of the 446 offal samples, 13 tested positive for Salmonella (2.91%; CI = 1.6–5). The serovars included S. Enteritidis (n = 3/13), S. Mbandaka (n = 1/13), S. Infantis (n = 3/13), S. Heidelberg (n = 5/13) and S. Typhimurium (n = 1/13). Antimicrobial resistance against amoxicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline was found only in S. Typhimurium and S. Mbandaka. All 13 Salmonella isolates harboured invA, agfA, lpfA and sivH virulence genes. The results show low Salmonella prevalence from chicken offal. However, most serovars are known zoonotic pathogens, and multi-drug resistance was observed in some isolates. Consequently, chicken offal products need to be treated with caution to avoid zoonotic Salmonella infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Foodborne Pathogens)
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13 pages, 1940 KiB  
Article
Critically Important Antimicrobial Resistance Trends in Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated from the Pork Production Chain in Brazil: A 16-Year Period
by Caroline Pissetti, Eduardo de Freitas Costa, Karoline Silva Zenato and Marisa Ribeiro de Itapema Cardoso
Pathogens 2022, 11(8), 905; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11080905 - 11 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1315
Abstract
Knowledge about antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella is relevant due to its importance in foodborne diseases. We gathered data obtained over 16 years in the southern Brazilian swine production chain to evaluate the temporal evolution of halo for carbapenem, and the MIC for third-generation [...] Read more.
Knowledge about antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella is relevant due to its importance in foodborne diseases. We gathered data obtained over 16 years in the southern Brazilian swine production chain to evaluate the temporal evolution of halo for carbapenem, and the MIC for third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolone, and polymyxin in 278 Salmonella Derby and Typhimurium isolates. All antimicrobial resistance assays were performed in accordance with EUCAST. To assess the diameter halo, we used a mixed linear model, and to assess the MIC, an accelerated failure time model for interval-censored data using an exponential distribution was used. The linear predictor of the models comprised fixed effects for matrix, serovar, and the interaction between year, serovar, and matrix. The observed halo diameter has decreased for ertapenem, regardless of serovars and matrices, and for the serovar Typhimurium it has decreased for three carbapenems. The MIC for ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime increased over 16 years for Typhimurium, and for Derby (food) it decreased. We did not find evidence that the MIC for colistin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin (Derby), or cefotaxime (food Typhimurium and animal Derby) has changed over time. This work gave an overview of antimicrobial resistance evolution from an epidemiological point of view and observed that using this approach can increase the sensitivity and timeliness of antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Foodborne Pathogens)
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14 pages, 1458 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus/Mammaliicoccus from Retail Ground Meat: Identification of Broad Genetic Diversity in Fosfomycin Resistance Gene fosB
by Masako Osada, Meiji Soe Aung, Noriko Urushibara, Mitsuyo Kawaguchiya, Nobuhide Ohashi, Mina Hirose and Nobumichi Kobayashi
Pathogens 2022, 11(4), 469; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11040469 - 14 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2360
Abstract
Staphylococcus is a major bacterial species that contaminates retail meat products. The objective of this study was to clarify the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genetic determinants of Staphylococcus/Mammaliicoccus species in retail ground meat in Japan. From a total of 146 retail [...] Read more.
Staphylococcus is a major bacterial species that contaminates retail meat products. The objective of this study was to clarify the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genetic determinants of Staphylococcus/Mammaliicoccus species in retail ground meat in Japan. From a total of 146 retail ground meat samples (chicken, pork, mixed beef/pork) purchased during a 5-month period, 10 S. aureus and 112 isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS)/Mammaliicoccus comprising 20 species were recovered. S. aureus isolates were classified into five genetic types, i.e., coa-IIa/ST5, coa-VIc/ST352 (CC97), coa-VIIb/ST398, coa-Xa/ST15, and coa-XIc/ST9, which were all related to those of livestock-associated clones. All the staphylococcal isolates were mecA-negative and mostly susceptible to all the antimicrobials tested, except for ampicillin among S. aureus (resistance proportion; 50%). Among CoNS, the fosfomycin resistance gene fosB was prevalent (30/112; 26.8%), primarily in S. capitis, S. warneri, and S. saprophyticus. Phylogenetic analysis of fosB revealed the presence of seven clusters, showing broad diversity with 65–81% identity among different clusters. In the CoNS isolates from ground meat samples, fosB was assigned into three clusters, and S. saprophyticus harbored the most divergent fosB with three genetic groups. These findings suggested the circulation of multiple fosB-carrying plasmids among some CoNS species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Foodborne Pathogens)
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Review

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18 pages, 2462 KiB  
Review
Recent Methods for the Viability Assessment of Bacterial Pathogens: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
by Kieu The Loan Trinh and Nae Yoon Lee
Pathogens 2022, 11(9), 1057; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11091057 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6256
Abstract
Viability assessment is a critical step in evaluating bacterial pathogens to determine infectious risks to public health. Based on three accepted viable criteria (culturability, metabolic activity, and membrane integrity), current viability assessments are categorized into three main strategies. The first strategy relies on [...] Read more.
Viability assessment is a critical step in evaluating bacterial pathogens to determine infectious risks to public health. Based on three accepted viable criteria (culturability, metabolic activity, and membrane integrity), current viability assessments are categorized into three main strategies. The first strategy relies on the culturability of bacteria. The major limitation of this strategy is that it cannot detect viable but nonculturable (VBNC) bacteria. As the second strategy, based on the metabolic activity of bacteria, VBNC bacteria can be detected. However, VBNC bacteria sometimes can enter a dormant state that allows them to silence reproduction and metabolism; therefore, they cannot be detected based on culturability and metabolic activity. In order to overcome this drawback, viability assessments based on membrane integrity (third strategy) have been developed. However, these techniques generally require multiple steps, bulky machines, and laboratory technicians to conduct the tests, making them less attractive and popular applications. With significant advances in microfluidic technology, these limitations of current technologies for viability assessment can be improved. This review summarized and discussed the advances, challenges, and future perspectives of current methods for the viability assessment of bacterial pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Foodborne Pathogens)
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