High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques
<b>Background:</b> The presence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens such as <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> strains in the food supply is dangerous. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i> strains in Greek meat products and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/5/708 |
| _version_ | 1797475042164998144 |
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| author | Nikoletta Argyro Theocharidi Iliana Balta Dimitra Houhoula Andreas G. Tsantes George P. Lalliotis Angeliki C. Polydera Haralambos Stamatis Panagiotis Halvatsiotis |
| author_facet | Nikoletta Argyro Theocharidi Iliana Balta Dimitra Houhoula Andreas G. Tsantes George P. Lalliotis Angeliki C. Polydera Haralambos Stamatis Panagiotis Halvatsiotis |
| author_sort | Nikoletta Argyro Theocharidi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> The presence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens such as <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> strains in the food supply is dangerous. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i> strains in Greek meat products and evaluate their phenotypes and genotypes. <b>Methods:</b> One hundred and ten meat specimens were cultured for the isolation of <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. In positive specimens, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis was performed to confirm the presence of <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. Genotypic and phenotypic evaluation of the isolated strains included multiplex immunoassay for the detection of carbapenemases, and PCR screening for the detection of resistance and virulence genes. <b>Results:</b><i>K. pneumoniae</i> strains were recovered in 90 (81.8%) meat samples. The <i>ecpA</i> gene was identified in 30 (33.3%) isolates, while the <i>fimH-1</i> and <i>mrkA</i> genes were present in 15 (16.7%) and 65 (72.2%) isolates, respectively. Sixty-five <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates (72.2%) were found to carry at least one resistance gene; of these, the <i>bla</i><i>NDM</i>-like was the most commonly identified gene in 40 (61.5%) isolates, followed by the <i>blaOXA</i>-48 like gene in 20 isolates (30.8%). <b>Conclusions:</b> A high frequency of foodborne <i>K. pneumoniae</i> in Greece was found. Our results indicate that most strains carried resistance and virulence genes, indicating a high pathogenic potential and a significant risk to human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:39:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-064ad3586d794ace94e0361039db9459 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:39:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-064ad3586d794ace94e0361039db94592023-11-23T23:01:16ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582022-02-0111570810.3390/foods11050708High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular TechniquesNikoletta Argyro Theocharidi0Iliana Balta1Dimitra Houhoula2Andreas G. Tsantes3George P. Lalliotis4Angeliki C. Polydera5Haralambos Stamatis6Panagiotis Halvatsiotis7Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceMicrobiology Department, ‘Saint Savvas’ Oncology Hospital, 11522 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceBiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceBiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “ATTIKON” University Hospital, 12461 Chaidari, Greece<b>Background:</b> The presence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens such as <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> strains in the food supply is dangerous. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i> strains in Greek meat products and evaluate their phenotypes and genotypes. <b>Methods:</b> One hundred and ten meat specimens were cultured for the isolation of <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. In positive specimens, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis was performed to confirm the presence of <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. Genotypic and phenotypic evaluation of the isolated strains included multiplex immunoassay for the detection of carbapenemases, and PCR screening for the detection of resistance and virulence genes. <b>Results:</b><i>K. pneumoniae</i> strains were recovered in 90 (81.8%) meat samples. The <i>ecpA</i> gene was identified in 30 (33.3%) isolates, while the <i>fimH-1</i> and <i>mrkA</i> genes were present in 15 (16.7%) and 65 (72.2%) isolates, respectively. Sixty-five <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates (72.2%) were found to carry at least one resistance gene; of these, the <i>bla</i><i>NDM</i>-like was the most commonly identified gene in 40 (61.5%) isolates, followed by the <i>blaOXA</i>-48 like gene in 20 isolates (30.8%). <b>Conclusions:</b> A high frequency of foodborne <i>K. pneumoniae</i> in Greece was found. Our results indicate that most strains carried resistance and virulence genes, indicating a high pathogenic potential and a significant risk to human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/5/708<i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>foodantimicrobial resistancevirulence |
| spellingShingle | Nikoletta Argyro Theocharidi Iliana Balta Dimitra Houhoula Andreas G. Tsantes George P. Lalliotis Angeliki C. Polydera Haralambos Stamatis Panagiotis Halvatsiotis High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques Foods <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> food antimicrobial resistance virulence |
| title | High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques |
| title_full | High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques |
| title_fullStr | High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques |
| title_short | High Prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Greek Meat Products: Detection of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes by Molecular Techniques |
| title_sort | high prevalence of i klebsiella pneumoniae i in greek meat products detection of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes by molecular techniques |
| topic | <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> food antimicrobial resistance virulence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/5/708 |
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