Campylobacter jejuni is the most common pathogen associated with foodborne diseases. Persistent presence of this pathogen contaminating the environment in slaughterhouses and chicken products have been reported worldwide. Although many efforts have been employed for reducing C. jejuni contamination, few studies have been conducted to understand the dynamics of C. jejuni in slaughterhouses over time. In this study, we evaluated the virulence, antibiotic resistance and genetic diversity profiles of 99 C. jejuni isolated from chilled chicken carcasses collected in Brazilian slaughterhouses during two distinct periods (2011-2012 and 2015-2016). The virulence profile was evaluated for the presence of flaA, ciaB, cadF, pldA and cdtABC genes. Antibiotic resistance was evaluated for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, gentamicin, erythromycin and tetracycline. Genetic diversity was assessed using RAPD-PCR. The prevalence of C. jejuni was significantly reduced in 2015-2016 as well the number of antibiotic (and multidrug) resistant isolates, except for tetracycline. However, isolates from 2015 to 2016 showed higher prevalence of multiple virulence genes and genetic diversity profile compared to isolates from 2011 to 2012. During the studied period, stricter regulations to control pathogens in poultry farms and slaughterhouses were implemented in Brazil, which may have contributed to the profile variation observed due to changes of selective pressures on bacterial populations.

Salmonella Infantis is frequently associated with human infections worldwide and is transmitted by consumption of contaminated foods, particularly those of animal origin, especially the chicken meat. We aimed to evaluate virulence characteristics, antimicrobial resistance and the genetic similarity of 51 strains of S. Infantis isolated from samples of poultry origin. The strains were isolated from 2009 to 2010 in a company with full cycle of broiler’s production in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed and, by PCR, we evaluated the presence of the genes lpfA (hem-adhesion), agfA (hem-biofilm) and sefA (hem-adhesion) and resistance genes to beta-lactams (blaTEM, blaSHV, bla CTX-M and blaAmpC ). The phylogenetic relationship was determined by RAPD-PCR method. Among the drugs tested, the highest percentages of resistance were to amoxicillin (35.3%) and to sulfonamide (15.7%). Eleven antimicrobial resistance patterns were identified (A1 to A11), none of them presented a multiresistance profile (> 3 antimicrobials classes). There was 100% of positivity for the agfA gene, 92.2% for the lpfA gene, and no strain presented the sefA gene. Most of the isolates showed similarities in virulence potential, since they were simultaneously positive for two studied genes, agfA and lpfA (92.2%, 47/51). Of the 18 (35.3%) strains resistant to antimicrobials of the β-lactam class, 10 (55.5%) were positive to blaAmpC gene, five (27.8%) for blaCTX-M , two (11.1%) to blaSHV and no strain presented the blaTEM gene. The phylogenetic evaluation has shown the presence of five clusters (A, B, C, D and E) with similarity greater than 80%, and three distinct strains which were not grouped in any cluster. Cluster B grouped 33 strains, all positive for lpfA and agfA genes, from both, the broiler farming facility and the slaughterhouse, persistent throughout all the study period. This cluster also grouped 18 strains clones with genetic similarity greater than 99%, all isolated in the slaughterhouse. The presence of virulence genes associated with persistent strains clones for a long period, warns to the possibility of S. Infantis to form biofilm, and should be constantly monitored in broilers’ production chain, in order to know the profile of the strains that may contaminate the final product and evaluate the hazards that represents to public health.

This study evaluated the ability of Campylobacter jejuni to penetrate through the pores of the shells of commercial eggs and colonize the interior of these eggs, which may become a risk factor for human infection. Furthermore, this study assessed the survival and viability of the bacteria in commercial eggs. The eggs were placed in contact with wood shavings infected with C. jejuni to check the passage of the bacteria. In parallel, the bacteria were inoculated directly into the air chamber to assess the viability in the egg yolk. To determine whether the albumen and egg fertility interferes with the entry and survival of bacteria, we used varying concentrations of albumen and SPF and commercial eggs. C. jejuni was recovered in SPF eggs (fertile) after three hours in contact with contaminated wood shavings but not in infertile commercial eggs. The colonies isolated in the SPF eggs were identified by multiplex PCR and the similarity between strains verified by RAPD-PCR. The bacteria grew in different concentrations of albumen in commercial and SPF eggs. We did not find C. jejuni in commercial eggs inoculated directly into the air chamber, but the bacteria were viable during all periods tested in the wood shavings. This study shows that consumption of commercial eggs infected with C. jejuni does not represent a potential risk to human health.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar características de virulência, perfil de resistência antimicrobiana e padrão de similaridade genética de 71 cepas de Salmonella Minnesota isoladas na cadeia produtiva de frangos de corte, entre 2009 e 2010, em duas unidades de uma empresa (A e B). Os isolados foram sorotipificados e submetidos ao teste de susceptibilidade antimicrobiana pelo teste de difusão em disco. Utilizando-se PCR, foi avaliada a presença dos genes invA, lpfA, agfA e sefA e os genes de resistência aos betalactâmicos (bla TEM , bla SHV e bla CTX-M ). A relação filogenética foi determinada por RAPD-PCR. Os maiores percentuais de resistência foram para tetraciclina e sulfonamida. Foram reconhecidos oito perfis de resistência aos antimicrobianos entre as cepas isoladas na indústria A, e 11 perfis de resistência na indústria B. Do total de cepas, 100% foram positivas para o gene invA, 98,6% para o gene agfA, 49,3% para o gene lpfA e nenhuma para o gene sefA. Três cepas foram positivas para o gene bla TEM (4,2%) e 11 (15,5%) para o gene bla CTX-M . A avaliação filogenética demonstrou a presença de sete clusters com similaridade superior a 80% e três perfis distintos. Com base no dendrograma, observou-se a disseminação de um mesmo perfil em ambas as empresas.

Resumo Objetivou-se descrever as condições higiênico-sanitárias de queijarias artesanais, determinar os parâmetros físico-químicos, bacteriológicos e o período mínimo de maturação que garanta a inocuidade de queijos minas artesanais produzidos em Uberlândia-MG. Foram analisados, até aos 26 dias de maturação, queijos de duas propriedades, antes e após treinamento em boas práticas, totalizando 10 lotes (fabricações) com 12 queijos cada. Foram realizadas análises físico-químicas e bacteriológicas nos queijos e análises bacteriológicas em amostras ambientais. Até 26 dias de maturação, o queijo foi classificado como gordo e de baixa umidade, mas, considerando a maturação até 10 dias (período de comercialização usual), são gordos com média umidade. O tempo de maturação influenciou nos índices físico-químicos, com exceção da gordura no extrato seco. Análises bacteriológicas ambientais demonstraram higiene deficiente e falhas ou ausência no tratamento da água. A maturação e o treinamento influenciaram na redução de coliformes totais e e. coli, mas não de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva, não sendo possível determinar um período de maturação mínimo que garantisse o atendimento à legislação. As análises físico-químicas demonstraram variações esperadas, como a redução do percentual de umidade, e as análises bacteriológicas refletiram o treinamento aplicado aos manipuladores, já que houve redução nas contagens de coliformes totais e E. coli. Contudo, para garantir a inocuidade do produto, é necessário um conjunto de ações que incluem reforço e repetição dos treinamentos, registro das atividades, rastreabilidade, associadas ao monitoramento e fiscalização regular.