2 weeks Ago
Biologists from the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Science are looking into the rapid rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria such as salmonella in poultry products. The study was conducted by Michael Joseph Nagpala, Jonah Feliza Mora, Rance Derrick Pavon, and Windell Rivera. Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning especially if the meat or egg is not properly cooked.
A study showed salmonella is the leading cause of food poisoning in the Philippines. There were 9,000 cases detected in 2022, but this went up to 13,000 in 2023. The scientists conducted whole genome sequencing and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance testing on chicken samples collected from public wet markets in Metro Manila, particularly in San Juan City, Quezon City, Malabon City, and Muntinlupa City.
The scientists aim to "identify the most common types of Salmonella, assess their disease-causing abilities, and uncover circulating antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) that pose risks to food safety and public health." The study revealed that the most predominant serovar or type of salmonella found in the samples was Salmonella infantis . “It showed the dominance of S.
Infantis among the studied Salmonella isolates, which is consistent with previous studies in chicken meat in the U.S., Europe, and Asia,” the study read.
Other types of salmonella detected were Brancaster, Anatum, London, Uganda, and Derby, all of which possessed diverse virulence and resistance genes, the scientists added. The study, which detected a rare type of salmonella called Isangi, is the first reported detection in the Philippines. “Previous reports of serovar Isangi in Brazil and South Africa are linked to poultry production,” the scientists said.
The biologists also noted high levels of multi-drug resistance (MDR) on the detected types of salmonella with a total of 50 antimicrobial resistance genes detected, conferring resistance to 12 distinct drug classes. “In fact, MDR pathogens have been widely reported in food animals and clinical samples, potentially attributed to the improper usage of this antibiotic in livestock and human medicine,” the study read. “It is therefore imperative to limit the risk of MDR Salmonella spreading to humans, other animals, and the environment,” it added.
— BAP, GMA Integrated News.
