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Isolation, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella and Escherichia coli Isolates from meat-based fast food in Lebanon

Isolation, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella and Escherichia coli Isolates from meat-based fast food in Lebanon
Isolation, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella and Escherichia coli Isolates from meat-based fast food in Lebanon
The aim of this study was to characterize at the molecular level the different stains of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli that were isolated from meat-based fast food in Lebanon. In addition, this study evaluated the resistance of those strains to different antimicrobials that are commonly used. The foods included were Lahm-bi-Ajeen (LBA, meat pies) and Shawarma (Lebanese meat sandwiches similar to Gyros and Donairs, containing meat, vegetables, and sesame seeds-oil-based sauce). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to characterize and identify the strains of both bacteria. Salmonella species characterization was performed using rfb genes cluster genetic marker, while that of E. coli strains were carried out based on stx1, stx2, eaeA, fliC, and ehlyA virulence markers. The characterized strains were then tested for their response to various antimicrobials. The results showed that the tested foods were contaminated with Salmonella paratyphi (serogroup A) and Shiga Toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STX-EC). The PCR showed that 75% of E. coli tested strains was positive in PCR performed with stx1 primers, one of which was eaeA positive. Two of the tested strains were positive using PCR with fliC primers.
The resistances of the various strains were evaluated using the following antimicrobials: Oxacillin, Teicoplanin, Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Gentamicin, Clindamycin, Cefotaxime, Cefuroxime, Erythromycin, and Vancomycin. Bacteria were highly resistant to one or more of the tested antimicrobials. Approximately 69% of E. coli and 77.8% of Salmonella spp. exhibited resistance. Salmonella spp. were shown to be 100% resistant to four antimicrobials: Oxacillin, Teicoplanin, Clindamycin, Vancomycin, and Erythromycin, while E. coli was 100% resistant to Teicoplanin and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The most interesting findings were the high susceptibility of the E. coli to Gentamicin (100%). Highest resistance in the case of Salmonella spp. was seen against Cefotaxime (74%). Those two antimicrobials are commonly used for the treatment of enteric infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that meat-based fast foods in Lebanon could be a public health hazard, especially Shawarma, as they may act as a potential vehicle for many antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic organisms. Improper hygienic standards and indiscriminate use of antimicrobials are two of the main causes for the prevalence of these pathogenic resistance strains in Lebanon. These results will emphasize the need to implement protective measures and more emphasis will be placed on the application of hygienic practices to reduce the levels of food contamination
lebanese fast foods, antimicrobial resistance, escherichia coli (STX-EC), salmonella paratyphi
0048-9697
33-44
Harakeh, Steve
c4ee9fdf-c780-4b7f-9f15-d760b22915f9
Yassine, Hadi
6d2b0bae-2be4-4a4f-a105-233bc1055f6c
Gharios, Maya
d0eb197f-caa1-4d51-97ec-5077c917c1fc
Barbour, Elie
631b02b1-9472-445a-83a9-30914242c05c
Hajjar, Shadi
346138d4-557e-4514-b7c0-8270f305f168
El-Fadel, Mutasem
6206783b-f040-458f-90b6-2cb2c361d7ae
Toufeili, Imad
0a87f9b1-c29c-40be-9cf5-d60e44720f2b
Tannous, Raja
d5d578e4-86a9-4520-9c1d-0ca05d4013f2
Harakeh, Steve
c4ee9fdf-c780-4b7f-9f15-d760b22915f9
Yassine, Hadi
6d2b0bae-2be4-4a4f-a105-233bc1055f6c
Gharios, Maya
d0eb197f-caa1-4d51-97ec-5077c917c1fc
Barbour, Elie
631b02b1-9472-445a-83a9-30914242c05c
Hajjar, Shadi
346138d4-557e-4514-b7c0-8270f305f168
El-Fadel, Mutasem
6206783b-f040-458f-90b6-2cb2c361d7ae
Toufeili, Imad
0a87f9b1-c29c-40be-9cf5-d60e44720f2b
Tannous, Raja
d5d578e4-86a9-4520-9c1d-0ca05d4013f2

Harakeh, Steve, Yassine, Hadi, Gharios, Maya, Barbour, Elie, Hajjar, Shadi, El-Fadel, Mutasem, Toufeili, Imad and Tannous, Raja (2005) Isolation, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella and Escherichia coli Isolates from meat-based fast food in Lebanon. Science of the Total Environment, 341 (1-3), 33-44. (doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.09.025).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize at the molecular level the different stains of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli that were isolated from meat-based fast food in Lebanon. In addition, this study evaluated the resistance of those strains to different antimicrobials that are commonly used. The foods included were Lahm-bi-Ajeen (LBA, meat pies) and Shawarma (Lebanese meat sandwiches similar to Gyros and Donairs, containing meat, vegetables, and sesame seeds-oil-based sauce). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to characterize and identify the strains of both bacteria. Salmonella species characterization was performed using rfb genes cluster genetic marker, while that of E. coli strains were carried out based on stx1, stx2, eaeA, fliC, and ehlyA virulence markers. The characterized strains were then tested for their response to various antimicrobials. The results showed that the tested foods were contaminated with Salmonella paratyphi (serogroup A) and Shiga Toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STX-EC). The PCR showed that 75% of E. coli tested strains was positive in PCR performed with stx1 primers, one of which was eaeA positive. Two of the tested strains were positive using PCR with fliC primers.
The resistances of the various strains were evaluated using the following antimicrobials: Oxacillin, Teicoplanin, Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Gentamicin, Clindamycin, Cefotaxime, Cefuroxime, Erythromycin, and Vancomycin. Bacteria were highly resistant to one or more of the tested antimicrobials. Approximately 69% of E. coli and 77.8% of Salmonella spp. exhibited resistance. Salmonella spp. were shown to be 100% resistant to four antimicrobials: Oxacillin, Teicoplanin, Clindamycin, Vancomycin, and Erythromycin, while E. coli was 100% resistant to Teicoplanin and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The most interesting findings were the high susceptibility of the E. coli to Gentamicin (100%). Highest resistance in the case of Salmonella spp. was seen against Cefotaxime (74%). Those two antimicrobials are commonly used for the treatment of enteric infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that meat-based fast foods in Lebanon could be a public health hazard, especially Shawarma, as they may act as a potential vehicle for many antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic organisms. Improper hygienic standards and indiscriminate use of antimicrobials are two of the main causes for the prevalence of these pathogenic resistance strains in Lebanon. These results will emphasize the need to implement protective measures and more emphasis will be placed on the application of hygienic practices to reduce the levels of food contamination

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More information

Published date: April 2005
Keywords: lebanese fast foods, antimicrobial resistance, escherichia coli (STX-EC), salmonella paratyphi

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Local EPrints ID: 52895
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/52895
ISSN: 0048-9697
PURE UUID: 9b5314cd-6799-467b-b87d-41d764a44f8e

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Date deposited: 15 Jul 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:38

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Contributors

Author: Steve Harakeh
Author: Hadi Yassine
Author: Maya Gharios
Author: Elie Barbour
Author: Shadi Hajjar
Author: Mutasem El-Fadel
Author: Imad Toufeili
Author: Raja Tannous

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