Published 20.01.2021

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Publication details

Journal : Microorganisms , vol. 9 , p. 1–19 , Wednesday 20. January 2021

Publisher : MDPI

International Standard Numbers :
Printed : 2076-2607
Electronic : 2076-2607

Publication type : Academic article

Contributors : Heir, Even; Moen, Birgitte; Åsli, Anette Wold; Sunde, Marianne; Langsrud, Solveig

Issue : 2

Research areas

Shelf life and food safety

If you have questions about the publication, you may contact Nofima’s Chief Librarian.

Kjetil Aune
Chief Librarian
kjetil.aune@nofima.no

Summary

Pseudomonas is ubiquitous in nature and a predominant genus in many foods and food processing environments, where it primarily represents major food spoilage organisms. The food chain has also been reported to be a potential reservoir of antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas. The purpose of the current study was to determine the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in psychrotrophic Pseudomonas spp. collected over a time span of 26 years from retail chicken in Norway and characterize their genetic diversity, phylogenetic distribution and resistance genes through whole-genome sequence analyses. Among the 325 confirmed Pseudomonas spp. isolates by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, antibiotic susceptibility profiles of 175 isolates to 12 antibiotics were determined. A subset of 31 isolates being resistant to ≥3 antibiotics were whole-genome sequenced. The isolates were dominated by species of the P. fluorescens lineage. Isolates susceptible to all antibiotics or resistant to ≥3 antibiotics comprised 20.6% and 24.1%, respectively. The most common resistance was to aztreonam (72.6%), colistin (30.2%), imipenem (25.6%) and meropenem (12.6%). Resistance properties appeared relatively stable over the 26-year study period but with taxa-specific differences. Whole-genome sequencing showed high genome variability, where isolates resistant to ≥3 antibiotics belonged to seven species. A single metallo-betalactmase gene (cphA) was detected, though intrinsic resistance determinants dominated, including resistance–nodulation (RND), ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and small multidrug resistance (Smr) efflux pumps. This study provides further knowledge on the distribution of psychrotrophic Pseudomonas spp. in chicken meat and their antibiotic resistance properties. Further monitoring should be encouraged to determine food as a source of antibiotic resistance and maintain the overall favorable situation with regard to antibiotic resistance in the Norwegian food chain.

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