Screening and characterization of non-typhoidal salmonella and other coliforms isolated form broiler products in the North West Province of South Africa

Abstract

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) organisms are an important causes of food borne infections worldwide, with highest prevalence in the sub-Saharan Africa. Contaminated meat and poultry products, among many other factors, have been documented as the major sources of infection. The disease burden is further compounded by the prevalence of multi-drug resistant strains of the organisms, resulting in failures in empirical antimicrobial treatments. Other members of Enterobacteriaceae family (pathogenic or not) have also been indicated to contribute significantly to the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes, particularly within the family. It has therefore become imperative to control the contamination of meat and poultry products by NTS serotypes and other colifoms. The effectiveness of this process however, depends on a proper definition of the risk analysis framework, beginning with risk assessment. In the North West Province (NWP) of South Africa, there have been reports of food borne illness outbreaks that were associated with consumption of poultry products, and in which cases NTS have been isolated adequate data on the prevalence and characteristics of NTS serotypes in poultry products is lacking. Studies were therefore conducted, to evaluate the incidence of NTS serotypes and other coliform contaminants in raw and ready-to-eat (RTE) broiler products in the NWP of South Africa, and to characterize the isolates based on antimicrobial susceptibility and stress response.