Contamination of retail market meat with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes in Vietnam

• Published in: International journal of food microbiology 2025-02, Vol.430, p.111061, Article 111061
• Main Authors: Le, Yen Hai, Hoang, Hoa Thi Thanh, Khong, Diep Thi, Nguyen, Thang Nam, Que, Tram Anh, Pham, Dung Tien, Tanaka, Kaori, Yamamoto, Yoshimasa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; beta-Lactamases - genetics; Chickens - microbiology; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Microbiology; Meat - microbiology; Swine; Vietnam
• ISSN: 0168-1605; 1879-3460; 1879-3460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2025.111061

The contamination of retail meat with antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a substantial public health risk because of the potential spread of these bacteria within communities. The contamination of retail meat with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria was investigated in four cities in Vietnam using real-time PCR, employing ESBL marker genes. This method provides a more comprehensive assessment of ESBL-producing bacterial contamination in meat samples than culture-based methods because it directly detects resistance genes from the extracted sample DNA. Retail meats in Vietnam were substantially contaminated with ESBL genes [54 % (n = 46) and 48 % (n = 49) of chicken and pork samples, respectively]. No significant differences in ESBL gene detection rates were observed between chicken and pork. The most frequently detected ESBL gene was blaTEM, followed by blaSHV, whereas blaCTX-M was found in only 4–8 % of the samples. Ho Chi Minh City showed significantly higher contamination rates for both chicken and pork than those in other cities. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains were isolated from contaminated meat samples and genomically analyzed. All isolated strains carried blaCTX-M, with some harboring blaTEM, whereas blaSHV was not detected. Although IncFIB plasmids were prevalent among the ESBL-producing E. coli strains, the variability in resistance gene profiles suggested that the endemic spread of specific resistance gene-carrying plasmids was unlikely. Overall, these findings highlight the effectiveness of the ESBL gene detection method and the high levels of ESBL-producing E. coli in retail meat. •High ESBL gene contamination observed in retail meat in Vietnam•Significant contamination in retail meat from Ho Chi Minh City•blaTEM and blaSHV were the most prevalent ESBL genes.•blaCTX-M was detected in 4–8 % of retail meat samples.•Limited plasmid spread despite the presence of IncFIB plasmids.