Nontyphoid Salmonella carriage, serovar profile and antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in slaughter cattle

Abstract

AbstractCurrent nontyphoid Salmonella (NTS) carriage in 200 apparently healthy slaughter cattle by ISO 6579 standard bacteriology (ISO) was 1% (2/200) in carcass and fecal content, and 2% (4/200) in mesenterial lymph nodes. There was no isolation from liver, kidney, spleen, and gallbladder, with an overall prevalence of 4% (8/200). Real‐time PCR was in substantial agreement to ISO in confirming Salmonella‐suspect isolates (Relative Trueness: 93.33%). Predominant serovar was S. Enteritidis (50%) followed by S. Typhimurium (37.5%), and S. Albany (12.5%). Five and three of eight NTS isolates were susceptible (62.5%) and resistant (37.5%) to 18 antimicrobials, respectively. Only three S. Enteritidis isolates (37.5%) showed multidrug resistance to 2–3 of 7 antimicrobials (amikacin, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, gentamicin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, and tobramycin). S. Enteritidis predominance over S. Typhimurium, first detection of S. Albany in cattle in Turkey, and sole resistance in mesenterial lymph node S. Enteritidis isolates highlights study findings.Practical applicationsContaminated carcass and related material, for example, fecal content and mesenterial lymph nodes of apparently healthy slaughter cattle carrying nontyphoid Salmonella serovars still pose significant health risk to public in Turkey, where bovine meat covers the highest annual red meat consumption quota with high demand to edible offal. In this study, current predominance of S. Enteritidis, particularly in mesenterial lymph nodes, and the MDR pattern identified; the presence of S. Typhimurium as the second dominant and pansusceptible serovar; detection of S. Albany for the first time in cattle fecal content are new epidemiological findings. This data could be used in revising both bovine meat and offal's actual NTS status, and the control and prevention programs in our country and in the neighboring countries of interest.