Isolation and molecular detection of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium from poultry processing environments at wet markets in Sulaymaniyah province, Iraq

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a predominant etiological agent of foodborne infections globally. Salmonella serovars are present throughout the chicken's digestive tract, particularly in the ceca. This study, conducted from October ۲۰۲۴ to April ۲۰۲۵, employed cultural methods to isolate and identify Salmonella from samples collected at the broiler chicken wet market in Sulaymaniyah province, Iraq. The research additionally examined the prevalence of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in these samples by PCR. Two-hundred and ten samples were obtained from the cecum, cutting boards, knives, body swabs, workers' hands, and water. Salmonella was isolated from the samples and identified by culturing and molecular techniques. Consequently, ۱۰۳ individuals (۴۹.۰۴%) tested positive for Salmonella via culture. The PCR results revealed that the contamination rate for S. enterica was ۷۴ (۷۱.۸۴%); ۴۷ (۶۳.۵۱%) were S. Typhimurium, and ۳۳ (۷۰.۲۱%) of S. Typhimurium possessed the hilA gene. The highest prevalence was observed in chopping boards, with ۹۱.۶۷% for S. enterica, whereas the maximum rate for S. Typhimurium was recorded in water, at ۱۰۰%. The phylogenetic tree indicates that the Iraqi isolate with accession number of PV۲۵۰۰۹۲ belongs to the principal group of isolates, exhibiting a bootstrap support value of ۱۰۰%, signifying a robust genetic association with them. To conclude, this research demonstrated a notable prevalence of Salmonella in the broiler chicken processing environment, particularly a high incidence of S. Typhimurium isolates. The placement of the Iraqi isolate within the global isolate clade suggests a recent common ancestor with other isolates, indicating global transmission pathways.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chicken ، Foodborne illness ، Prevalence ، Salmonellosis ، Salmonella typhimurium