Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella spp. in Retail Chicken Outlets in Phatthalung, Thailand
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Abstract
Salmonellosis is a major foodborne disease associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry products. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella spp. isolated from retail chicken outlets in Phatthalung, Thailand. A total of 43 isolates recovered from chicken meat, knives, and cutting boards across five outlets were confirmed via biochemical tests and PCR using genus-specific primers. Serotyping revealed six serogroups, with serogroup B being the most prevalent (37.21%), followed by C2 (18.60%), C1 (16.28%), D and E (11.63% each), and G (4.65%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 13 antibiotics showed high resistance to ampicillin (95.35%), streptomycin (69.77%), and tetracycline (60.46%). Moderate resistance to fluoroquinolones was detected (41.86–46.51%), whereas gentamicin showed comparatively lower resistance (23.26%). In contrast, resistance to third-generation cephalosporins remained low (ceftriaxone 4.65%; cefotaxime 13.95%). Identical antibiogram patterns between meat samples and environmental surfaces (knives and cutting boards) within the same outlets suggested possible cross-contamination. Notably, 30 (69.77%) isolates were multidrug-resistant Salmonella, resistant to 3 or more antibiotic classes. Therefore, these findings highlight the role of retail chicken outlets as reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella, posing a potential public health risk.
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