Incidence and antibiogram of Clostridium perfringens isolated from herbs and spices widely distributed in the Egyptian market

Abstract

The present study was designed for isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) from herbsand spices that are widely distributed in the Egyptian markets; and determination of the drug of choice for its control basedon the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test (AST). A total of 392 samples of herbs and spices were randomly andanonymously selected from the enormous number of samples obtained from the Egyptian markets. An overall occurrenceof C. perfringens was 8.42% (33 out of 392). Separately, occurrence was higher in herbs than spices being 10.5 and 6.25%,respectively. C. perfringens isolates were identified and confirmed with macroscopical, microscopical and biochemicalanalysis. AST results revealed that isolates of C. perfringens from the tested herbs and spices samples were found mostsusceptible to ampicillin-sulbactam and Penicillin-G with inhibition zones of 19.4 ± 0.98 and 16.6 ± 1.16 mm, respectively.On the other hand, the isolates were found nearly resistant to clindamycin and vancomycin with inhibition zones of 6.28± 0.63 and 8.78 ± 0.41 mm, respectively. Meanwhile, the isolates were intermediary susceptible to trimethoprimsulphamethoxazolecombination and chloramphenicol. Data of the present study indicate occurrence of C. perfringens inherbs and spices with a considerable rate and the antimicrobials of choice for its control are penicillins and ceftazidime.higher sanitation procedures in herbs and spices industry before its distribution to the Egyptian markets have beenrecommended