Background and Aim: Escherichia coli can cause a number of serious infections both in human and veterinary medicine. Their management is increasingly complicated by the emergence and dissemination of multiresistance to various first-line antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to evaluate the resistance level to the commonly used antibiotics, with a focus on the first-line antimicrobial agents, in E. coli strains isolated from poultry in Western Algeria. Materials and Methods: E. coli culture was done on MacConkey agar and their identification was determined by AP20E system. For susceptibility testing, disk diffusion method to 14 antimicrobials, including first-line antibiotics, was used according to Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method in Mueller-Hinton agar and the results were interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. E. coli isolates were considered as multidrug resistance (MDR) when found resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent of three different families of antibiotics. Double-disk synergy and combination disk tests were used for initial screening and confirmation for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) production, respectively. Results: A total of 145 E. coli strains were isolated in this study. High resistance levels to various antibiotics, including commonly used first-line antimicrobial agents, were recorded in this study. The highest resistance level was observed against nalidixic acid (90.34%, n=131), followed by tetracycline (86.89%, n=126), ampicillin (82.75%, n=120), enrofloxacin (80.68%, n=117) and neomycin (80.68%, n=117), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (73.79%, n=107), norfloxacin (72.41%, n=105) and cephalothin (72.41%, n=105), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (51.72%, n=75), chloramphenicol (22.75%, n=33), nitrofurantoin (17.24%, n=25), gentamicin (13.10%, n=19), and ceftiofur (3.44%, n=5). Moreover, resistance to multiple first-line antibiotics was also demonstrated in the present study. Overall, 139 out of 145 isolates (95.86%) demonstrated MDR (resistant to at least three antibiotics). In addition, five E. coli isolates (3.44%) were confirmed to be ESBL producers. Conclusion: The alarming rate of E. coli resistant to multiple first-line antibiotics in poultry demands intensified surveillance. These results call for taking drastic measures to preserve antibiotic effectiveness and reduce the emergence risks of extensively drug-resistant and pandrug-resistant E. coli isolates.

Multiresistant and especially Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a serious public health problem that requires their immediate identification and antibiotic resistance characteristics. In order to determine antibiotic resistance S. aureus poultry and bovine origin, 8840 samples were collected from slaughterhouses in the northern region of Algeria between years 2009 and 2014. 8375 samples were from an avian origin (1875 from laying hens and 6500 from broiler chickens) and the rest was from bovine origin. Bacteriological isolation and identification were made by classical culture method and antibiotic resistance patterns were determined by disc diffusion test. The prevalence of S. aureus was 42% in laying hens, 12% in broilers, and 55% in bovine samples. The prevalence of MRSA was 57%, 50%, and 31% in laying hens, broiler chickens, and bovine, respectively. While MRSA strains isolated from poultry showed cross-resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, sulphonamides, and cyclins, those isolated from bovine also revealed similar multiresistance except for sulphonamide. This high percentage of methicillin resistance and multidrug resistance in S. aureus poultry and bovine origin may have importance for human health and curing of human infections.

Background and Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of infection in both humans and animals. Most livestock strains have shown antibiotic resistance to the many molecules used in veterinary therapeutics. This study aimed to assess the resistance patterns of these bacteria, we carried out our study in the Tiaret and Souk Ahras areas of Algeria. Materials and Methods: We collected 116 samples of bovine and goat milk to detect S. aureus. We used a selective media to isolate the strains, followed by biochemically identifying the isolates. We determined the susceptibility of the strains to antibiotic molecules using the disk diffusion method and confirmed the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with oxacillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: Our results showed that 26.72% of the samples were contaminated with S. aureus, and we recovered 31 isolates from the positive samples. We ascribed a high resistance profile to penicillin G (96.77%), fusidic acid (67.74%), and tobramycin (45.16%) and isolated 4MRSA strains. Conclusion: The presence of S. aureus, including MRSA strains in raw milk, can present a public health hazard, because these strains can cause widespread food poisoning . This finding will be useful to the veterinarians to choose an adequate treatment and to sensitize livestock breeders and milk producers to ensure the health of consumers.

Honey is a natural product extensively consumed in the world for its nutritional and healthy properties. However, residues of pesticides and environmental contaminants can compromise its quality. For this reason, the physicochemical parameters, and the organic contamination of monofloral and multifloral honey from three regions of Algeria (Tiaret, Laghouat, and Tindouf) were monitored to evaluate the quality of the honey and its safety for consumers. In general, the results obtained from the physicochemical analyses were in line with the EU standards. In terms of contamination, pesticides authorised and used in Algerian agriculture (metalaxyl-M and cyromazine), as well as a banned pesticide (carbaryl), were found in almost all the samples. However, only the concentration of cyromazine was higher than the relative EU maximum residue levels. PCB 180, PCB 189, anthracene, fluorene, and phenanthrene were mainly detected. All the honey shows traces of DiBP, DBP, DEHP, and DEHT, but no traces of bisphenols were found. Moreover, according to the dietary exposure assessment, a small amount of Algerian honey can be safely consumed. Overall, the data from this study should motivate the Algerian government to enhance their monitoring activities in beekeeping and to find solutions for implementing more sustainable agricultural practices harmonising with international legislation.

Although the EU is a major producer of honey, commercial production is often insufficient to meet market demand and, as a result, honey is often imported into the EU from extra-EU countries that lack regulatory standards for food safety and quality. Since honey is a matrix highly susceptible to contamination, monitoring the quality and safety of extra-EU honey is of significant importance to show potential safety gaps. Hence, aim of the study was to monitor the mineral profile of monofloral and multifloral honeys from different regions of North (provinces of Tiaret and Laghouat) and South Algeria (province of Tindouf). In almost all the samples, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb were found at levels exceeding the limits set for honey by the Codex Alimentarius and European Regulation 915/2023. In addition, a PCA analysis pointed out that the analysis of the element profile was useful to discriminate Algerian honeys more on the basis of geographical than botanical origin. The dietary exposure assessment indicates that the investigated honeys can be safely consumed in quantities comparable to those considered in Europe (1.8 g/day) and North Africa (0.3 g/day). Hopefully, data from this study may solicit the Algerian government to set regulatory limits on inorganic elements in honey and align with other international standards, to create a harmonized network able to improve the safety of this food.