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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #390173
Research Project: Reduction of Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Production Environments

Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit

Title: Genetic characterization of Salmonella Infantis recovered from comminuted turkey samples collected by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service between 2019 and 2021

Author
item SANCHES-INGUNZA, ROXANA - Rsi Poultry Veterinary Consulting
item PULIDO-LANDINEZ, MARTHA - Mississippi State University
item Guard, Jean

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 2016, Salmonella performance standards were established for two types of turkey products in the United States (U.S.), turkey carcasses and comminuted turkey. The maximum acceptable percent positive in comminuted turkey for the poultry establishments to meet the standard is 13.5% while the prevalence of Salmonella in this type of regulated product was 18.34% in 2020. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) is within the top five most important Salmonella serovars recovered from turkey samples as reported by the FSIS. The S. Infantis emergent clone reported in the U.S. carries several antimicrobial resistance genes and other genes that provide the bacteria with environmental survival advantage. Previously, we have reported plasmid associated genetic variation in S. Infantis recovered from chickens in South America and genetic variability in U.S. chicken isolates linked to plasmid content and chromosomal mutations. The present study investigates the genetic features of S. Infantis recovered from comminuted turkey in the U.S. between 2019 and 2021. The genome sequencing data of a total of one hundred S. Infantis isolates from comminuted turkey collected by the FSIS were downloaded from the NCBI website. The isolates were genetically characterized through single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) phylogeny analysis, plasmid detection, antimicrobial profiles prediction, gene content evaluation, and detection of gene mutations leading to truncated proteins. This study would aid in the understanding of S. Infantis circulating in turkey processing establishments, the identification of molecular targets for diagnostics and process control, and in defining control interventions in the field and at the processing plant.