The secrets of environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa in slaughterhouses: Antibiogram profile, virulence, and antibiotic resistance genes

Israa M S Al-Kadmy; Suhad Abbas Abid; Sarah Naji Aziz; Zahraa Al-Kadmy; Ahmed Suhail; Sawsan Sajid Al-Jubori; Eman Natiq Naji; Eman Alhomaidi; Ramadan Yahia; Abdelazeem M Algammal; Gaber El-Saber Batiha; Helal F Hetta

doi:10.1007/s12223-023-01116-1

The secrets of environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa in slaughterhouses: Antibiogram profile, virulence, and antibiotic resistance genes

Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2023 Dec 13. doi: 10.1007/s12223-023-01116-1. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Branch of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, POX 10244, Baghdad, Iraq. israaalkadmy@gmail.com.
² Branch of Microbiology, Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, POX 10244, Baghdad, Iraq.
³ Department of Dentistry, Al-Rasheed University College, Baghdad, Iraq.
⁴ Departmentt of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
⁵ Branch of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, POX 10244, Baghdad, Iraq.
⁶ Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, Minya, Egypt.
⁸ Department of Bacteriology, Immunology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.
⁹ Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicines, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, Egypt.
¹⁰ Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

PMID: 38091178
DOI: 10.1007/s12223-023-01116-1

Abstract

Environmental pollution is a serious problem that can cause sicknesses, fatality, and biological contaminants such as bacteria, which can trigger allergic reactions and infectious illnesses. There is also evidence that environmental pollutants can have an impact on the gut microbiome and contribute to the development of various mental health and metabolic disorders. This study aimed to study the antibiotic resistance and virulence potential of environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolates in slaughterhouses. A total of 100 samples were collected from different slaughterhouse tools. The samples were identified by cultural and biochemical tests and confirmed by the VITEK 2 system. P. aeruginosa isolates were further confirmed by CHROMagar™ Pseudomonas and genetically by rpsL gene analysis. Molecular screening of virulence genes (fimH, papC, lasB, rhlI, lasI, csgA, toxA, and hly) and antibiotic resistance genes (blaCTX-M, blaAmpC, blaSHV, blaNDM, IMP-1, aac(6')-Ib-, ant(4')IIb, mexY, TEM, tetA, and qnrB) by PCR and testing the antibiotic sensitivity, biofilm formation, and production of pigments, and hemolysin were carried out in all isolated strains. A total of 62 isolates were identified as P. aeruginosa. All P. aeruginosa isolates were multidrug-resistant and most of them have multiple resistant genes. blaCTX-M gene was detected in all strains; 23 (37.1%) strains have the ability for biofilm formation, 33 strains had virulence genes, and 26 isolates from them have more than one virulence genes. There should be probably 60 (96.8%) P. aeruginosa strains that produce pyocyanin pigment. Slaughterhouse tools are sources for multidrug-resistant and virulent pathogenic microorganisms which are a serious health problem. Low-hygienic slaughterhouses could be a reservoir for resistance and virulence genes which could then be transferred to other pathogens.

Keywords: Biofilm; Multiple drug resistance; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Virulence genes.