Antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence-associated genes in Campylobacter isolates from milk and wastewater in Hatay, Turkey/Susceptibilidade antimicrobiana e genes associados a virulencia em isolados de Campylobacter do leite e aguas residuais em Hatay, Turquia

Campylobacter is one ofthe most common causes of bacterialfoodborne diseases throughout the world. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence of Campylobacter isolates of raw cow's milk and cattle slaughterhouse wastewater samples in Hatay, Turkey. A total of 114 raw milk and 78 wastewater samples were analyzed for the identification of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari by multiplex PCR. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter was found to be 7.2%, of these isolates, 85.7% were identified as C. jejuni and 14.2% as C. coli, but C. lari was not detected in the study. The cdtA and cadF genes were present in 66.6% and 41.6% of C. jejuni isolates tested, respectively, but wlaN gene was not found in any of the isolates. Results of antimicrobial resistance analysis showed that 71.4% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin, 64.2% to tetracycline, and 57.1% to ciprofloxacin. Overall, 8 of 14 Campylobacter isolates (57.1%) showed a multidrug resistance. Key words: antimicrobial resistance, Campylobacter, milk, wastewater. Campylobacter e uma das causas mais comuns de doencas bacterianas de origem alimentar em todo o mundo. Este estudo foi conduzido para determinar a prevalencia, a resistencia antimicrobiana e a virulencia de isolados de Campylobacter de leite de vaca cru e amostras de aguas residuais de matadouros de gado em Hatay, na Turquia. Um total de 114 amostras de leite cru e 78 de aguas residuais foram analisados para identificacao de C. jejuni, C. coli e C. lari por PCR multiplex. A prevalencia global de Campylobacter foi de 7,2%, destes isolados, 85,7% foram identificados como C. jejuni e 14,2% como C. coli, mas C. lari nao foi detectado no estudo. Os genes cdtA e cadF estavam presentes em 66,6% e 41,6% dos isolados de C. jejuni testados, respectivamente, mas o gene wlaN nao foi encontrado em nenhum dos isolados. Os resultados da analise de resistencia antimicrobiana mostraram que 71,4% dos isolados eram resistentes a eritromicina; 64,2% a tetraciclina e; 57,1% a ciprofloxacina. Em geral, 8 dos 14 isolados de Campylobacter (57,1%) apresentaram resistencia a multiplos farmacos. Palavras-chave: resistencia antimicrobiana, Campylobacter, leite, aguas residuais.