Frequency, serotyping and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella from feces and lymph nodes of pigs

Portuguese. RESUMO: Nas últimas décadas, o aumento de cepas circulante de Salmonella concomitantemente a resistência microbiana tem despertado a preocupação dos órgãos de Saúde Pública. Deste modo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi pesquisar a presença de Salmonella a partir de fezes (n=50), linfonodos mediastinos (n=50), mesentéricos (n=50) e submandibular (n=50) oriundos de um abatedouro suíno. As cepas isoladas foram sorotipadas e testadas quanto a resistência antimicrobiana. A presença de Salmonella isolada foram em 10% (20/200) do total de amostras, sendo 20% dos linfonodos submandibulares, 18% dos linfonodos mesentéricos e 2% das fezes. Os sorotipos encontrados foram S. Typhimurium (55%), S. enterica subsp. enterica 4,5,12: i: - (35%), S. Brandenburg (5%) e S. Derby (5%). Todas a cepas apresentaram resistência a pelo menos um antimicrobiano testado, sendo 90% resistente pelo menos quatro antimicrobianos. Destes, 15% foram classificadas como multidrogas resistentes. Os antimicrobianos mais resistentes entre os sorovares isolados foram a ciprofloxacina, tetraciclina e o ácido nalidixico. A presença de cepas de Salmonella resistente a antimicrobianos na espécie suína tem gerado um grande impacto epidemiológico entre homem e animal, reforçando cada vez mais a necessidade do uso adequado de drogas principalmente relacionado com o tema “One Health”.

English. ABSTRACT: Salmonellosis is a foodborne disease caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella, being pigs and pork-products potentially important for its occurrence. In recent decades, some serovars of Salmonella have shown increase of resistance to conventional antimicrobials used in human and animal therapy, with serious risks for public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate feces (n=50), mediastinal (n=50), mesenteric (n=50) and mandibular (n=50) lymph nodes obtained from slaughter houses for Salmonella spp. Positive samples were serotyped and subjected to an in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test, including the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. Salmonella species were identified in 10% (20/200) of total samples. From these, 20% (10/50) were identified in the submandibular lymph nodes, 18% (9/50) in the mesenteric lymph nodes, 2% (1/50) in feces and 0% (0/50) in the mediastinal lymph nodes. The serotypes found were Salonella Typhimurium (55%), S. enterica subsp. enterica 4,5,12: i: - (35%), S. Brandenburg and S. Derby with 5% (5% each). All strains showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial; 90% were resistant to four or more antimicrobials, and 15% were multidrug-resistant. Resistance to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and nalidixic acid was particularly prevalent amongst the tested serovars. Here, we highlighted the impact of pigs in the epidemiological chain of salmonellosis in domestic animals and humans, as well as the high antimicrobial resistance rates of Salmonella strains, reinforcing the necessity for responsible use of antimicrobials for animals as an emergent One Health issue, and to keep these drugs for human therapy approaches.