Bacteriological and Molecular Characterization of Salmonella Species Isolated from Humans and Chickens in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University

2 Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of Salmonella species in 690 different samples collected from Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The samples comprised of chicken meat, organs, eggs, cloacal swabs and wooden surface swabs from pluck shop outlets and hand swabs from workers. In addition, stool swabs from patients with gastroenteritis attending the Outpatient Clinics at Zagazig and Abo-Hammad cities. Salmonella spp. were detected in 5.9%, 2.6%, 4.2%, 10.4%, 10% and 10% of chicken meat, organs, egg shell, cloacal swabs, surface swabs and hand swabs, respectively. The isolation rate from stool swabs was 0.8%. Biochemical Identification revealed that Salmonella spp. were identified in 129 out of 690 examined samples (18.7%). Meanwhile, molecular identification using invA gene revealed that only 29 Salmonella isolates were detected (4.2%). S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis were identified from different samples with the percentages of 1.2 and 1.01, respectively. The other identified Salmonella serovars were S. Newport (0.9%), S. Kentucky (0.7%), and S. Infantis (0.4%). Virulence associated genes including avrA, hilA and pef were identified in 100, 91.3 and 10.3% of the examined isolates. In conclusion, a proportion of chicken carcasses and giblets sold in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt was contaminated with Salmonella spp. including potentially virulent S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, posing risk for human consumers. 

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