Overlap of Antibiotic Resistant Campylobacter jejuni MLST Genotypes Isolated From Humans, Broiler Products, Dairy Cattle and Wild Birds in Lithuania

Antimicrobial resistance was determined for 341 thermophilic Campylobacter jejuni isolates obtained from human clinical cases (n = 101), broiler products (n = 98), dairy cattle (n = 41) and wild birds (n = 101) with known multilocus sequence types (MLST) in Lithuania. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, gentamicin, ceftriaxone and erythromycin were determined with the agar dilution method. MIC values were compared with MLST types to find possible associations among isolation source, sequence type and resistance to antibiotics. The proportions of resistant strains were 94.2% (human), 95% (wild birds), 100% (broiler products) and 100% (dairy cattle) for one of the tested antibiotics. Most frequently, resistance to ciprofloxacin was observed (91.5%), followed by ceftriaxone with 60.4%, and tetracycline (37.8%). However only three C. jejuni strains were resistant to erythromycin (0.9%) and all tested thermophilic Campylobacter strains were sensitive to gentamicin. Most of the examined C. jejuni isolates (80.6%) showed resistance to at least one of three profiles: CIP+AXO (28.1%), TET+CIP+AXO (26.7%) and CIP (25.8%). Statistically significant differences in resistance to tetracycline were found between C. jejuni strains obtained from cattle (85.4%) and broiler products (64.3%) (P < 0.05). The majority (87.1%) of the tested strains from wild birds were resistant to ciprofloxacin (P < 0.05). The results showed that strains of novel ST’s showed significantly lower resistance to ceftriaxone (P < 0.05). The ST-21 (CC21) (78.8%) was identified with significantly higher multidrug resistance relatively to other tested ST’s in this study. Our results emphasize the high antimicrobial resistance of phylogenetically diverse C. jejuni strains isolated from different sources including specific genotypes of wild bird’s strains in Lithuania. The results support the opinion that not only broiler products but cattle and wild birds may be a reservoir of resistant C. jejuni and stipulate a risk of spread or resistant bacteria. There is increasing need for broad surveillance and control measures to track changes and pathways of antimicrobial resistance of C. jejuni in epidemiologically distinct populations

Whole Genome Sequence-Based Prediction of Resistance Determinants in High-Level Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Isolates in Lithuania

Spread of antibiotic resistance via mobile genetic elements associates with transfer of genes providing resistance against multiple antibiotics. Use of various comparative genomics analysis techniques enables to find intrinsic and acquired genes associated with phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter jejuni genome sequences with exceptionally high-level multidrug resistance. In this study, we used whole genome sequences of seven C. jejuni to identify isolate-specific genomic features associated with resistance and virulence determinants and their role in multidrug resistance (MDR). All isolates were phenotypically highly resistant to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone (MIC range from 64 to &ge;256 &micro;g/mL). Besides, two C. jejuni isolates were resistant to gentamicin, and one was resistant to erythromycin. The extensive drug-resistance profiles were confirmed for the two C. jejuni isolates assigned to ST-4447 (CC179). The most occurring genetic antimicrobial-resistance determinants were tetO, beta-lactamase, and multidrug efflux pumps. In this study, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in genomic islands carrying genes that confer resistance to MDR, underline their importance for disseminating antibiotic resistance in C. jejuni. The genomic approach showed a diverse distribution of virulence markers, including both plasmids and phage sequences that serve as horizontal gene transfer tools. The study findings describe in silico prediction of AMR and virulence genetics determinants combined with phenotypic AMR detection in multidrug-resistant C. jejuni isolates from Lithuania

The impact of lactic acid bacteria with antimicrobial properties on biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biogenic amines in cold smoked pork sausages

The influence of surface treatment with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), previously cultivated in an alternative substrate, on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and biogenic amines (BAs) in cold smoked pork meat sausages was investigated. Moreover, sausages treatment with LAB after the smoking on PAHs content changes was evaluated. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of LAB metabolites on food spoilage bacteria was determined using the agar well diffusion assay method. The metabolites of Pediococcus acidilactici KTU05-7, Pediococcus pentosaceus KTU05-9 and Lactobacillus sakei KTU05-6 strains showed good inhibitory properties against tested pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria. Moreover L. sakei produced bacteriocins inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the treatment of sausages surface with LAB before smoking decreased the content of cadaverine and spermidine, whereas the treatment of sausages surface with LAB after smoking decreased the content of putrescine (approx. 53% when L. sakei and P. acidilactici were applied) or totally eliminated (applying P. pentosaceus) from outer layers and centre of sausages. The application of LAB for sausages treatment before and after smoking significantly decreased both benzo[a]pyrene and chrysene decreasing (p < 0.05). The results also confirm that potatoes juice could be used as an alternative substrate for LAB cultivation, and the obtained fermented bioproducts could be applied for surface treatment of cold smoked pork sausages in case to reduce microbial contamination, and PAHs content in final product