Skip navigation

Serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, and genetic diversity of Salmonella spp. isolated from small-scale leafy green vegetable supply chains in South Africa

Serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, and genetic diversity of Salmonella spp. isolated from small-scale leafy green vegetable supply chains in South Africa

Kgoale, Degracious M., Duvenage, Stacey ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5984-1491, Du Plessis, Erika M., Gokul, Jarishma K. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5984-1491 and Korsten, Lise (2023) Serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, and genetic diversity of Salmonella spp. isolated from small-scale leafy green vegetable supply chains in South Africa. Journal of Food Protection, 87:100195. pp. 1-10. ISSN 0362-028X (Print), 1944-9097 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100195)

[thumbnail of Publisher VoR]
Preview
PDF (Publisher VoR)
44979_DUVENAGE_Serotype_distribution_antimicrobial_resistance_virulence_genes_and_genetic_diversity.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Salmonella have been implicated in foodborne disease outbreaks globally and is a pressing concern in the South African small-scale sector due to inadequate hygiene standards and limited regulatory oversight, leading to a higher risk of foodborne diseases. By investigating irrigation water and leafy green vegetables produced by small-scale growers and sold through unregulated supply chains, this study was able to determine the presence, serotype distribution, virulence gene profiles, antibiotic resistance, and genetic diversity of Salmonella isolated from these sources. From 426 samples, 21 Salmonella-positive samples were identified, providing 53 Salmonella isolates. Of these, six different Salmonella serotypes and sequence types (STs) were identified, including Salmonella II 42:r: ST1208 (33.96%; n = 18), Salmonella Enteritidis: ST11 (22.64%; n = 12), Salmonella II 42:z29: ST4395 (16.98%; n = 9), Salmonella Havana: ST1524 (15.09%; n = 8), Salmonella Typhimurium: ST19 (9.43%; n = 5), and Salmonella IIIb 47:i:z: ST7890 (1.89%; n = 1). A total of 92.45% of the isolates were found to be multidrug-resistant, showing high rates of resistance to aztreonam (88.68%; n = 47), ceftazidime (86.79%; n = 46), nalidixic acid (77.36%; n = 41), cefotaxime (75.47%; n = 40), cefepime (71.70%; n = 38), and streptomycin (69.81%; n = 37). All isolates possessed the aac(6')-Iaa antimicrobial resistance gene, with a range of between 9 and 256 virulence genes. Eleven cluster patterns were observed from Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus sequence analyses, demonstrating high diversity among the Salmonella spp., with water and fresh produce isolates clustering, suggesting water as a potential contamination source. Plasmid replicon types were identified in 41.51% (n = 22) of the isolates, including Col(pHAD28) in Salmonella Havana (5.66%; n = 3), Col156 in Salmonella II 42:z29:- (1.89%; n = 1) and both IncFIB(S) and IncFII(S) in Salmonella Enteritidis (22.64; n = 12), Salmonella Typhimurium (9.43%; n = 5), and Salmonella Havana (1.89%; n = 1). This study highlights the presence of multidrug-resistant and multivirulent Salmonella spp. in the small-scale leafy green vegetable supply chains, underscoring the need for the development of a “fit-for-purpose” food safety management system within this system.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: antibiotype; diversity; food safety; multidrug-resistant; Salmonella spp; whole genome sequencing
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Engineering & Science
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Food & Markets Department
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Safety and Quality
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2024 14:49
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/44979

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics