Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes, and Antibiotic Residue in Food from Animal Sources: One Health Food Safety Concern

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing foodborne serious illnesses can be found in contaminated food. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the pathogens, genes, and antimicrobial residues present in raw milk and meat. We collected 40 raw milk and 40 beef samples using the aseptic method from various parts of the Faisalabad metropolis, Pakistan. The samples were cultured on blood, MacConkey, and UTI chrome agar. The VITEK 2 compact system was used for microbial identification and determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations. Antimicrobial resistance genes for extended-spectrum β-lactamases, methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, and carbapenem resistance were identified using molecular techniques. ELISA was used to determine the tetracycline residue level in each sample. The beef samples showed polymicrobial contamination with 64 bacterial isolates, with Escherichia coli (29; 45.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (11; 17.1%) predominating. The milk samples showed polymicrobial contamination with 73 bacterial isolates, with E. coli (22; 30%), K. pneumoniae (12; 16.4%), and S. aureus (10; 13.6%) forming the majority. Twenty-eight (43.7%) isolates from beef harbored tet genes, nineteen (29.6%) bla(CTX-M), and fourteen (21.8%) bla(NDM-1), and twenty-six (35.6%) isolates from milk harbored tet genes, nineteen (26%) bla(TEM) and bla(CTX-M), and three (4%) bla(NDM-1). Twenty-two (55%) each of the beef and milk samples exceeded the maximum residue limit for tetracycline. Polymicrobial contamination by bacteria possessing bla(CTX-M), bla(TEM), bla(NDM-1), bla(OXA), mecA, and tet genes was identified in food samples. The high tetracycline residue levels pose a serious health risk to consumers.