Kolhe, R. P.Shisode Shilpa Ganesh2024-11-052024-11-052024-04-10https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810216020Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat, and it is also a food safety concern. Foods of animal origin are considered major vehicles for the transmission of resistant foodborne bacteria. Limited information on resistance in food animals is available due to inadequate AMR monitoring systems. This study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of resistant E. coli, Salmonella, Enterococcus, and S. aureus in raw chicken and table eggs. Altogether, 240 samples comprised of raw chicken and eggs (120 each) were collected. The prevalence of E. coli (48.33%), and Enterococci (42.5%) was more as compared to S. aureus (22.5%), and Salmonella (19.16%) in raw chicken. On eggshell surfaces, E. faecium was more prevalent than E. faecalis. Salmonella could not be detected from eggshells. E. coli isolates were resistant to tetracycline, cefazolin, ceftriaxone, and ampicillin. They were susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. Over 44 (75.86%) E. coli were MDR strains. Salmonella isolates from chicken also showed 100% resistance to tetracycline, and cefazolin (56.52%). S. aureus isolated were highly resistant to clindamycin, linezolid, methicillin, and oxacillin. Enterococci were highly resistant to tetracycline, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin, and 94.11% of Enterococci were MDR strains. ESBL-positive strains could not be detected by the phenotypic method, however, blaTEM and tetA genes were predominantly detected in E. coli and Salmonella. blaCTX-M was present in one isolate and blaSHV was present in two E. coli obtained from chicken. None of the phenotypically positive methicillinresistant S. aureus was positive for mecA gene. We could not detect stx1/stx2 genes in E. coli; however, Salmonella isolates of chicken were positive for invA (100%), stn (55.55%), spvR (22.22%), and iroB (44.44%) virulent genes. Continuous surveillance to recognize the shifting pattern of resistance, ESBL phenotypes, and associated genetic elements in foodborne bacteria of animals and poultry is necessary.EnglishThesis