Molecular characterization of Campylobacter spp. recovered from beef, chicken, lamb and pork products at retail in Australia

PLoS One. 2020 Jul 30;15(7):e0236889. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236889. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Australian rates of campylobacteriosis are among the highest in developed countries, yet only limited work has been done to characterize Campylobacter spp. in Australian retail products. We performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) on 331 C. coli and 285 C. jejuni from retail chicken meat, as well as beef, chicken, lamb and pork offal (organs). Campylobacter isolates were highly diverse, with 113 sequence types (STs) including 38 novel STs, identified from 616 isolates. Genomic analysis suggests very low levels (2.3-15.3%) of resistance to aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, fluoroquinolone, macrolide and tetracycline antibiotics. A majority (>90%) of isolates (52/56) possessing the fluoroquinolone resistance-associated T86I mutation in the gyrA gene belonged to ST860, ST2083 or ST7323. The 44 pork offal isolates were highly diverse, representing 33 STs (11 novel STs) and harboured genes associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, lincosamides and macrolides not generally found in isolates from other sources. Prevalence of multidrug resistant genotypes was very low (<5%), but ten-fold higher in C. coli than C. jejuni. This study highlights that Campylobacter spp. from retail products in Australia are highly genotypically diverse and important differences in antimicrobial resistance exist between Campylobacter species and animal sources.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Campylobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Campylobacter Infections / genetics
  • Campylobacter Infections / microbiology*
  • Campylobacter coli / drug effects
  • Campylobacter coli / genetics*
  • Campylobacter coli / isolation & purification
  • Campylobacter jejuni / drug effects
  • Campylobacter jejuni / genetics*
  • Campylobacter jejuni / isolation & purification
  • Cattle
  • Chickens
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Food Microbiology
  • Meat / analysis*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Red Meat
  • Sheep
  • Swine
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA, Bacterial

Grants and funding

This work was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council grant (NHMRC GNT1116294), with partner funding from AgriFutures, Australian Government Department of Health, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, New South Wales Food Authority and Queensland Health. Additional funding was provided by ACT Health. The National Health and Medical Research Council provided research fellowship funding for Martyn D. Kirk (APP1145997). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.