Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of <i>Salmonella</i> spp. and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. Isolated from Retail Chickens in Saudi Arabia
Foodborne pathogens such as <i>Salmonella</i> spp.and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. pose significant threats to the safety of broiler meat worldwide. However, data on their prevalence in retail chicken meat in Saudi Arabia are scarce. This context mainly concerns the vast poultry...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/1/27 |
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| Summary: | Foodborne pathogens such as <i>Salmonella</i> spp.and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. pose significant threats to the safety of broiler meat worldwide. However, data on their prevalence in retail chicken meat in Saudi Arabia are scarce. This context mainly concerns the vast poultry market in Saudi Arabia, which may double by 2030. The overall objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of <i>Salmonella</i> spp. and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. in retail chickens from small, medium-sized, and large production companies in Saudi Arabia. Of the 212 chicken samples tested, <i>Salmonella</i> was detected in 9.3% of samples, all identified as <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Enteritidis. <i>Campylobacter</i> was more prevalent, found in 35.8% of samples, with <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> accounting for 26.4% and <i>Campylobacter coli</i> for 9.3%. Pathogen prevalence was higher in small-scale than in medium-sized and large producers. <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid (90%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and tetracycline (70%). Most <i>Campylobacter coli</i> isolates (90%) exhibited resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, and gentamicin, followed by tetracycline (80%). <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> isolates showed high resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, azithromycin, and nalidixic acid (75–92%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed in all <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> isolates, 90% of <i>Campylobacter coli</i> isolates, and 70% of <i>Salmonella</i> isolates. These findings underscore the urgent need for adherence to food safety guidelines, particularly in small-scale poultry farms. The pervasive presence of MDR <i>Salmonella</i> spp. and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. in broiler meat calls for enhanced surveillance, stricter enforcement of food safety practices, and public health initiatives to mitigate the risk of foodborne diseases in Saudi Arabia. |
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| ISSN: | 2036-7481 |