• González-Raurich, Montserrat
• López, Mercedes
• Cotter, Paul
• Ruiz, Lorena
• Alvarez-Ordóñez, Avelino
• Cobo-Díaz, José F.
• Alvarez-Molina, Adrián
• Prieto, Miguel
• Mencía-Ares, Oscar
• Puente-Gómez, Paula
• Alexa, Elena A.
• Walsh, Calum J.
• Fernández-Gómez, Paula
• Prieto, Bernardo
• Crispie, Fiona
• Likotrafiti, Eleni

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>The microorganisms that inhabit food processing environments (FPE) can strongly influence the associated food quality and safety. In particular, the possibility that FPE may act as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, and a hotspot for the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is a concern in meat processing plants. Here, we monitor microbial succession and resistome dynamics relating to FPE through a detailed analysis of a newly opened pork cutting plant over 1.5 years of activity.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>We identified a relatively restricted principal microbiota dominated by <jats:italic>Pseudomonas</jats:italic> during the first 2 months, while a higher taxonomic diversity, an increased representation of other taxa (e.g., <jats:italic>Acinetobacter</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Psychrobacter)</jats:italic>, and a certain degree of microbiome specialization on different surfaces was recorded later on. An increase in total abundance, alpha diversity, and β-dispersion of ARGs, which were predominantly assigned to <jats:italic>Acinetobacter</jats:italic> and associated with resistance to certain antimicrobials frequently used on pig farms of the region, was detected over time. Moreover, a sharp increase in the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing <jats:italic>Enterobacteriaceae</jats:italic> and vancomycin-resistant <jats:italic>Enterococcaceae</jats:italic> was observed when cutting activities started. ARGs associated with resistance to β-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and sulphonamides frequently co-occurred, and mobile genetic elements (i.e., plasmids, integrons) and lateral gene transfer events were mainly detected at the later sampling times in drains.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>The observations made suggest that pig carcasses were a source of resistant bacteria that then colonized FPE and that drains, together with some food-contact surfaces, such as equipment and table surfaces, represented a reservoir for the spread of ARGs in the meat processing facility.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• dispersion
• surface
• size-exclusion chromatography