Original Research

Characterisation and antibiotic resistance of Yersinia enterocolitica from various meat categories, South Africa

Emmanuel M. Seakamela, Letlhogonolo Diseko, Dikeledi Malatji, Lavhelesani Makhado, Mmatau Motau, Kudakwashe Jambwa, Kudakwashe Magwedere, Nombasa Ntushelo, Itumeleng Matle
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 89, No 1 | a2006 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v89i1.2006 | © 2022 Emmanuel M. Seakamela, Letlhogonolo Diseko, Dikeledi Malatji, Lavhelesani Makhado, Mmatau Motau, Kudakwashe Jambwa, Kudakwashe Magwedere, Nombasa Ntushelo, Itumeleng Matle | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 24 February 2022 | Published: 07 November 2022

About the author(s)

Emmanuel M. Seakamela, Bacteriology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; and, Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Letlhogonolo Diseko, Bacteriology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
Dikeledi Malatji, Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Lavhelesani Makhado, Bacteriology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
Mmatau Motau, Bacteriology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
Kudakwashe Jambwa, Bacteriology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
Kudakwashe Magwedere, Directorate of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Pretoria, South Africa
Nombasa Ntushelo, Department of Biometry, Infruitec, Agricultural Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
Itumeleng Matle, Bacteriology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Yersinia enterocolitica infections impose a significant public health and socioeconomic burden on human population in many countries. The current study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profile and molecular diversity of Y. enterocolitica in meat and meat products across various retail outlets in selected provinces of South Africa (SA). In a cross-sectional study, a total of 581 retail meat and meat products were collected from four cities across three provinces of SA. Samples were from beef and pork products, which included 292 raw intact, 167 raw processed, and 122 ready-to-eat (RTE) meats. Samples were analysed using classical microbiological methods for isolation, identification and biotyping of Y. enterocolitica. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for confirmation, serotyping, screening of virulence (n = 11) and antimicrobial resistance (n = 18) genes. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined against 12 antibiotics discs, using disc diffusion method. The overall prevalence of 12% (70/581) was reported across all cities with contamination proportion reported in samples collected from raw intact 15% (43/292), followed by raw processed 11% (18/167) and RTE meats 7% (9/122). All positive isolates were of biotype 1A with 7% (5/70) belonging to bioserotype 1A/O:8. Most of the isolates harboured ymoA, ystB, fepD, ail, fepA, invA and myfA virulence genes. High antimicrobial resistance frequency was observed for ampicillin (94%), cephalothin (83%) and amoxicillin (41%), respectively. Of the 18 tested antimicrobial resistance genes, blaTEM was the most predominant (40%) followed by cmlA (21%). This study reveals the presence of antimicrobial resistant Y. enterocolitica possessing virulent genes of public health importance in products of animal origin, therefore, health monitoring and surveillance of this pathogen is required.


Keywords

Yersinia enterocolitica; meat; prevalence; biotypes; bioserotypes; serotypes; virulence genes; antimicrobial resistance genes

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