Ecological prevalence, genetic diversity, and multidrug resistance of Salmonella enteritidis recovered from broiler and layer chicken farms

ABSTRACT: Salmonella is a significant foodborne pathogen that has a significant impact on public health, and different strains of multidrug resistance (MDR) have been identified in this genus. This study used a combination of phenotypic and genotypic approaches to identify distinct Salmonella species collected from poultry broiler and layer farms, and antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed on these species. A total of 56 Salmonella isolates were serotyped, and phenotypic antibiotic resistance was determined for each strain. The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) method was also used to provide a genotypic description, from which a dendrogram was constructed and the most likely phylogenetic relationships were applied. Salmonella isolates were detected in 20 (17%) out of 117 samples collected from small-scale broiler flocks. Salmonella isolates were classified as MDR strains after showing tolerance to 4 antibiotics, but no resistance to cloxacillin, streptomycin, vancomycin, or netilmicin was observed. From a genotypic perspective, these strains lack dfrD, parC, and blasfo-1 resistant genes, while harboring blactx-M, blaDHA-L, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, gyrA, ermA, ermB, ermC, ermTR, mefA, msrA, tet A, tet B, tet L, tet M resistance genes. The genotyping results obtained with ERIC-PCR allowed isolates to be classified based on the source of recovery. It was determined that Salmonella strains displayed MDR, and many genes associated with them. Additionally, the ERIC-PCR procedure aided in the generation of clusters with biological significance. Extensive research on Salmonella serotypes is warranted, along with the implementation of long-term surveillance programs to monitor MDR Salmonella serotypes in avian-derived foods.