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ABSTRACT Salmonella spp. is one of the major bacterial causes of foodborne gastroenteritis in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility to cephalosporins and quinolones, and to identify the genetic mechanisms related to this resistance in strains of Salmonella spp. Seventy chicken carcass samples were collected from slaughterhouses in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The phenotypic profile was detected by the disk-diffusion method and the search for genes encoding betalactamases, and resistance to quinolones was evaluated by PCR. The search for mutations in gyrA and parC was carried out by sequencing these genes. Eleven strains of Salmonella spp. of different serotypes were isolated. All the strains were resistant to at least one of the antimicrobials tested, and 63.64% (7/11) showed resistance to three or more antimicrobials. In the phenotypic test for ESBL production, 36.36% (4/11) of the strains were considered positive. PCR detected the resistance genes bla CMY-2, qnrB, bla CTX-M, and bla TEM. Among the isolates, 45.45% (5/11) simultaneously presented the bla CTX-M, bla TEM, qnrB genes and a mutation (Thr-57→Ser) in parC. Point mutations in the parC gene were detected in all the analyzed samples. Genes such as bla SHV, qnrA, qnrC, qnrD, qnrS, aac(6’)-Ib, qepA, and oqxAB were not detected. The study identified Salmonella spp. resistant to cephalosporins and quinolones, with resistance genes and mutations in parC, highlighting concerns about the adoption of biosecurity measures, responsible use of antimicrobials, and surveillance of resistant strains in the poultry chain.

ABSTRACT Enteropatogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC), are generally poultry and poultry product isolate and can cause serious human infections. Many strains may become resistant to various antimicrobials, which can hinder the treatment of bacterial diseases. Organic farming seeks to avoid the selection and frequency of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aims to verify the resistance of EPEC and STEC from organic and conventional (industrial) broiler isolates to antimicrobials. All isolates were submitted to disk diffusion test with tetracycline, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin + clavulanate (TET, GEN, ENO, CTX, AMC) and PCR to detect specific virulence genes for EPEC and STEC. A total of 297 E. coli strains were isolated, 213 from conventional. In organic broiler, 84 strains were isolated. The strains from the conventional broiler isolates were resistant to five antimicrobials tested: TET 48.82% (104/213), ENO 28.17% (60/213), CTX 15.49% (33/213), GEN 14.55% (31/213), and AMC 7.04% (15/213), and 9.86% (21/213) were considered multidrug-resistant. Organic chicken strains were resistant to four of the antimicrobials tested: TET 35.7% (30/84), ENO 9.5% (8/84), CTX 2.4% (2/84), GEN 4.8% (4/84). Of the strains from the organic broiler chicken isolates, only 1.2% (1/84) was considered multidrug-resistant. No EPEC and STEC were found in the organic chicken samples. The multidrug resistance was characterized in 9.52% (2/21) of the EPEC and 4.76% (1/21) of the STEC. The study demonstrated the absence of EPEC and STEC strains in organic broilers and carcasses and a lower frequency of multiresistant strains compared to conventional breeding.

Abstract The present report aims at describing the occurrence of Marek's Disease (MD) in a free range poultry farm based on macroscopic and microscopic lesions. For this purpose, seven free-range chickens were evaluated by gross and microscopic examination. Tumor lesions were observed in the liver and ovary, in addition of enlarged kidney and spleen, skin thickening and whitish lesions in streak form in the breast muscle. Fragments of the affected organs were collected and placed in 10% formalin for processing by the usual histopathology techniques, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Under microscopic evaluation, we observed pleomorphic populations of neoplastic lymphoreticular cells with pyknotic nuclei in the same organs, all compatible with MD. The macroscopic and microscopic lesions presented in this study were consistent with MD, meaning that the MD virus is present in the rearing environment of the studied chicken farm.

ABSTRACT The extensive use of antimicrobial agents has contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance (MDR) in Salmonella, an important zoonotic pathogen that causes outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis in humans. The study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profile of Salmonella strains isolated from poultry in Brazil. A total of 230 Salmonella strains, isolated from cloacal swabs (n=56) and broiler carcasses swabs (n=174) before and after chilling from slaughterhouses under Federal Inspection Service within the period 2012-2017, were analyzed. Serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed on all the isolates. Serotyping results showed that 41% of the strains were Salmonella Heidelberg, 29% S. Minnesota, 12% S. Saintpaul, 6.5% S. Enteritidis, 3.9% S. Anatum, 2.2% S. Cerro, 2.2% S. Senftenberg, 1.7% S. Newport, 0.4% S. Ealing, 0.4% S. O:4,5 and 0.4% S. O:9,12. MDR rates of the isolates were 67.4%. S. Heidelberg 89.5%, S. Minnesota 51.5%, S. Saintpaul 82.1%, S. Anatum 66.7%, S. Cerro 60%, S. Senftenberg 40%. Out of the 230 strains, 41.3% presented resistance to Penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitor, Penicillin, 1st and 2nd Generation Cephalosporin, 3rd and 4th Generation Cephalosporin, Tetracycline and Sulfonamide. Salmonella Heidelberg, S. Saintpaul, S. Anatum, S. Cerro, S. Senftenberg and S. Minnesota were isolated after chilling tank highlighting a food safety concern for the industry of poultry and poultry products indicating a risk to collective health. The high prevalence of MDR nontyphoidal Salmonella obtained in this study limit the options available to treat infectious disease in humans and animals.

1. This study evaluated the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin and the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) mechanisms in 97 nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. isolated from broilers and carcases from three different regions in Brazil. The presence of mutations in quinolone resistance determination regions (QRDRS) was investigated in the ciprofloxacin-resistant strain by DNA sequencing.2. Most of the Salmonella spp. (85.6%) had intermediate resistance to ciprofloxacin and only one isolate was resistant. MIC breakpoints ranged from ≤0.03 to 1 µg/ml and 67.0% of the strains had a MIC of 0.25 µg/ml (n=65). Thirteen strains (13.4%) were susceptible to ciprofloxacin with MIC ≤0.06 µg/ml. The qnr B gene was detected in eight isolates with intermediate resistance and in two susceptible strains. The other PMQR genes, qnr A, qnr C, qnr D, qnr S, qnr VC, aac (6')-Ib, qep A, oqx AB and mutations in QRDR were not detected in any strain.3. There was a high frequency of ciprofloxacin intermediate resistant Salmonella from broiler and broiler carcases from Brazil. The presence of these strains in poultry and derived products poses a risk to public health.

1. The aim of this study was to compare the resistance pattern of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. isolated from conventional production (n = 34) and backyard poultry flocks (n = 36) from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The disc diffusion method and statistical tests were used for investigation and analysis of the resistance pattern of Campylobacter spp. isolated from different rearing systems.2. Antimicrobial resistance percentages to amoxycillin with clavulanic acid (AMC), ampicillin (AMP), ceftiofur (CTF), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENO), erythromycin (ERI), gentamicin (GEN) and tetracycline (TET) were 32.4%, 44.1%, 67.6%, 97.1%, 82.4%, 26.5%, 5.9% and 38.2% in conventional production flocks respectively, while the backyard flock's resistance levels were 0.0%, 13.9%, 69.4%, 100.0%, 91.7%, 5.6%, 0.0% and 16.7%, respectively.3. Campylobacter spp. from conventional poultry production was more resistant to AMC, AMO, ERI and TET (P > 0.05) when compared to strains from backyard poultry. A higher frequency of resistance to fluoroquinolones (FLQ), CIP and ENO, was observed in strains from both systems, demonstrating the spread of resistant strains among poultry production environments.