Microbiological Quality and Safety of Fresh Rabbit Meat with Special Reference to Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and ESBL-Producing E. coli.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the microbial quality and safety of rabbit meat. A total of 49 rabbit meat samples were taken at the retail level. The mesophiles, staphylococci, Enterobacterales, and Pseudomonas spp. counts were 4.94 ± 1.08, 2.59 ± 0.70, 2.82 ± 0.67, and 3.23 ± 0.76 log CFU/g, respectively. Campylobacter spp. were not detected in any sample. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from one sample (2.04%) at levels below 1.00 log CFU/g. Multi-resistant S aureus was found in seven samples (14.9%). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, M. caseolyticus, and M. sciuri were found in a sample each (10.20%), and all of them were multi-resistant. Multi-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli were detected in two samples from the same retailer (4.08%). The high resistance found in methicillin-resistant staphylococci and ESBL-producing E. coli is of particular concern, and suggests that special measures should be taken in rabbit meat.

Effect of the Presence of Antibiotic Residues on the Microbiological Quality and Antimicrobial Resistance in Fresh Goat Meat.

A total of 11 fresh goat legs were collected at the retail level. Mesophiles, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter spp., and Listeria monocytogenes counts were determined. Nine samples were free of antibiotic residues, while in the other two samples the presence of sulfadiazine and doxycycline was detected. The antimicrobial resistance of E. coli, staphylococci, Macrococcus spp., and enterococci isolates was also evaluated. Clostridium perfringens was found in two samples. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected in one sample. S. epidermidis isolated from one sample containing doxycycline residues showed resistance to mupirocin. Moreover, multi-resistant S. epidermidis and M. caseolyticus were found. Most of the isolated Enterococcus faecium were multi-resistant. Neither extended-spectrum ß-lactamase -producing E. coli nor vancomycin-resistant enterococci were detected in any sample. The presence of doxycycline or sulfadiazine could affect the goat meat microbiota since less microbial diversity was found in these samples compared to those free of antibiotics. The presence of antibiotic residues could increase the antimicrobial resistance of enterococci in fresh goat meat. The presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in goat meat could be considered a potential threat and should be monitored. Special measures should be taken at the farm level and during slaughter to reduce antimicrobial resistance.