[ODP-207] Molecular profiling of extended spectrum β-lactamases and class 1 integrons in retail chicken meat
Global spread of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) has been recognised as a global threat in the food supply chain and healthcare settings of humans. Meat products may be one of the most important vehicular routes for ESBL-producers. Despite its public health significance, the prevalence of ESBL-E in chicken meat in Japan has been reported only in few areas. Under the One Health approach, it is imperative to monitor the contamination rates by resistant bacteria and investigate the molecular profiles of ESBL-E in chicken meat portions retailed in Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan. In this study, 523 bacterial strains were isolated from 50 chicken meat samples collected from 13 different supermarkets. Next, 104 ESBL-E out of 523 strains that were isolated possessed resistant genotypes after screening and sequencing. Among 66 non-duplicate isolates, the β-lactamase gene, blaTEM, was the most frequently identified (34/66, 51.51%), followed by class 1 integrons (28/66, 42.42%), and blaCTX-M (16/66, 24.24%). Some blaTEM positive isolates also carried blaCTX-M and/or class 1 integrons which harboured genes that confer drug resistance. Predominant detection of ESBL genotypes in this study may pose serious health concern to the public. Hence, continuous monitoring of processing techniques is needed to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.