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Title: Identification and characterization of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Albert isolates in the United States

Author
item FOLSTER, JASON - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item CAMPBELL, DAVINA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item GRASS, JULIAN - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item BROWN, ALLISON - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item BICKNESE, AMELIA - International Health Resources & Consulting (IHRC)
item TOLAR, BETH - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item JOSEPH, LAVIN - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item Plumblee Lawrence, Jodie
item WALKER, CARRIE - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University
item FEDORKA-CRAY, PAULA - Former ARS Employee
item WICHARD, JEAN - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States

Submitted to: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2015
Publication Date: 5/1/2015
Citation: Folster, J., Campbell, D., Grass, J., Brown, A., Bicknese, A., Tolar, B., Joseph, L., Plumblee, J., Walker, C., Fedorka-Cray, P., Wichard, J. 2015. Identification and characterization of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Albert isolates in the United States. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 59(5):2774-2779.

Interpretive Summary: Salmonella enteric is one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States. Although most people can get better from Salmonella infections on their own, some require antibiotics. There are many different subtypes of Salmonella and each one can vary in geographic diversity and the ability to cause human disease. In this study, we identified and characterized 19 Salmonella enterica serotype Albert isolates from food animals, retail meat, and humans collected in the United States during 2005-2013. The 5 isolates from non-human sources all came from turkeys or ground turkey suggesting poultry consumption or exposure to live animals was the probable source of infection. All of these 5 isolates also came from the Midwest. The 19 Albert isolates were resistant to many different classes of antibiotics which can make treating an infection from this strain very difficult. The resistance probably came from extra-chromosomal DNA called plasmids that can circulate in the environment. More work is needed to understand why these plasmids spread and how their presence influences human disease.

Technical Abstract: Salmonella enterica is one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States. Although most Salmonella infections are self-limiting, antimicrobial treatment is critical for invasive salmonellosis. Primary antimicrobial treatment options include fluoroquinolones or extended-spectrum cephalosporins and antimicrobial resistance to these drugs may complicate treatment. At present, Salmonella enterica is composed of more than 2,600 unique serotypes, which vary greatly in geographic prevalence, ecological niche, and ability to cause human disease and it is important to understand and mitigate the source of human infection, particularly when antimicrobial resistance is found. In this study, we identified and characterized 19 Salmonella enterica serotype Albert isolates from food animals, retail meat, and humans collected in the United States during 2005-2013. All of the 5 isolates from non-human sources were obtained from turkeys or ground turkey and epidemiologic data suggest poultry consumption or live poultry exposure as the probable source of infection. Salmonella ser. Albert also appears to be geographically localized to the Midwestern states of the U.S. All 19 isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR), including resistance to fluoroquinolones and extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Turkeys are a likely source of multidrug resistant Salmonella Albert, and circulation of resistance plasmids, as opposed to expansion of a single resistant strain, is playing a role. More work is needed to understand why these resistance plasmids spread and how their presence and the serotype they reside in contribute to human disease.