Abstract

Acinetobacter genus belongs to a group of Gram-negative coccobacillus. These bacteria are isolated from human and animal origins. Antimicrobial agents play a vital role in treating infectious diseases in both humans and animals, and Acinetobacter in this regard is defined as an organism of low virulence. The current study aimed to evaluate antibiotic resistance properties and virulence factor genes in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from raw animal meat samples. Fresh meat samples from 124 sheep, 162 goat, and 95 camels were randomly collected from Isfahan and Shahrekord cities in Iran. Most A. baumannii strains isolated from sheep meat samples represented fimH (82.35%), aac(3)-IV (78.43%), sul1 (78.43%) and Integron Class I (96.07%) genes. Moreover, more than 50% of A. baumannii strains isolated from sheep samples were resistant to streptomycin (54.90%), gentamycin (74.50%), co-trimoxazole (70.58%), tetracycline (82.35%), and trimethoprim (62.74%). Current findings revealed significant association between the presence of fimH, cnfI, afa/draBC, dfrA1, sulI, aac(3)-IV genes in sheep samples. Furthermore, significant association was observed between fimH, cnfI, sfa/focDE and dfrA1genes in goat meat samples. In sheep meat samples, significant differences were identified in resistance to gentamicin, tetracycline, and co-trimoxazole in comparison with other antibiotics. Finally, there were statistically significant differences between the incidences of resistance to gentamicin, tetracycline, and co-trimoxazole in comparison with other antibiotics in all strains. In conclusion, the presence of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in A. baumannii strains isolated from animal meat samples showed that animals should be considered as a potential reservoir of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.

Highlights

  • Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) has been considered a major nosocomial pathogen, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), which can produce numerous infections such as septicemia, nosocomial meningitis, urinary tract infection, bacteremia, wound infection, infection of skin and soft tissue, and high-mortal pneumonia [1]

  • The current study aimed to evaluate antibiotic resistance properties and virulence factor genes in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from raw animal meat samples

  • It can be concluded that almost all virulence factor genes were represented in sheep samples except fyuA

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Summary

Introduction

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) has been considered a major nosocomial pathogen, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), which can produce numerous infections such as septicemia, nosocomial meningitis, urinary tract infection, bacteremia, wound infection, infection of skin and soft tissue, and high-mortal pneumonia [1]. It can be identified in a range of food items, such as fruits, raw vegetables, milk, and dairy products [2]. Antimicrobial agents are essential for treating infectious diseases in both humans and animals [5]

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