Search

Shigella spp. is the causative agent of gastric infections commonly acquired by the consumption of contaminated food. Chicken meat is an important transmission source of shigellosis due to its high demand and consumption. The purpose of this article is the detection of Shigella spp in chicken meat that is sold in Ambato from different markets. 135 samples were taken, 45 from places with an operating licence, 45 from informal food markets and 45 from slaughterhouses that supply the city of Ambato. Phenotypic identification was performed by culturing bacteria on selective medium, Gram staining and TSI. Shigella spp. candodates were sent for molecular identification by amplification of the 16S region of ribosomal DNA, where the presence of Shigella sonnei (10), Shigella flexneri (5) and Shigella dysenteriae (2) was demonstrated, whereas that Shigella boydii was not in any of the samples. In summary, three species of Shigella were identified, predominantly S. sonnei with greater inclination in slaughterhouses and informal outlets, which can mean a serious problem for Public Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteus mirabilis is a bacterium capable of causing pathologies of interest in public health. It occurs commonly in chicken meat. P. mirabilis does not stand out for its pathogenicity levels, but it does stand out for its difficult therapeutic approach once the infection has developed, due to its antibiotic resistance. In this study, 135 samples of chicken meat were collected in several retail centers in Ambato (45 formal sales, 45 informal sales and 45 slaughterhouses). Samples were seeded in selective culture media (McConkey Agar and XLD Agar), Gram staining was used, as well as biochemical tests (Oxidase Test and TSI) and molecular identification were performed by amplifying the 16S DNA ribosomal region, consequently there were 48 samples of P. mirabilis with 17 different strains, NCTC 11938 was the most common. P. mirabilis was mainly identified in formal retail centers, followed by slaughterhouses and informal retail centers. Meet contamination is related to food processing protocols breach. The great prevalence of this bacterium portrays a public concern issue, due to hazards related to meat contamination with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]