Background

Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen that causes an estimated 153 million enteric infections and 56,969 diarrheal deaths each year worldwide [1]. Chicken meat and eggs have been reported as a major source of Salmonella contamination. Therefore, it is important to control Salmonella in chicken- and egg-containing food products [2, 3].

Despite significant improvements in technology and hygienic practices at all stages of chicken production, salmonellosis and Salmonella infections remain an intransigent threat to human and animal health. In many countries the high incidence of salmonellosis in humans appears to be caused by infection derived from contaminated eggs, poultry meat and meat-containing products. The contaminated products cause disease as a result of inadequate cooking or cross contamination of working surfaces in the kitchen environment ([4, 5]. According to food poisoning statistics from the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center in Japan, there were 93,444 bacterial foodborne illnesses between 1999 and 2002, and 32% of these cases were salmonellosis (http://idsc.nih.go.jp/iasr/index.html). According to another survey in Japan, Salmonella is the second most common (after Campylobacter infection) cause of bacterial foodborne outbreaks [6].

Poultry, especially broiler chickens, are well known reservoirs of various Salmonella serovars, many of which are able to infect humans and Salmonella Infantis has been the most prevalent serovar isolated from fresh poultry meat and broiler flocks all over in Europe [7]. Nine serovars of Salmonella were detected in Japan from retail chicken meat in 2012, S. Infantis (33%), S. Schwarzengrund (12%), and S. Manhattan (9%) were the most frequent [8]. Beside, Salmonella Schwarengrund is one of the Salmonella serovars responsible for human and poultry infections in some countries, for sample, the United States, Denmark and Thailand [9, 10].

Antimicrobial resistance is becoming an increasingly important issue in salmonellosis in both animals and human [11]. In poultry production, antimicrobial agents are widely used for growth promotion, or treatment purposes [12]. As a consequence, chicken and chicken meat can harbor antimicrobial resistant strains and function as a vehicle for dissemination of these to human. Today, antimicrobial resistant of Salmonella strains are frequently encountered in most of the world and the proportion of antimicrobial resistant dramatically increased over the past decade [13].

Research on the epidemiology of Salmonella throughout the food chain is important for determining the specific distribution patterns of antimicrobial resistance for this pathogen. In this study, we analyzed the prevalence, serovars, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella isolates from broiler chickens in Kagoshima, Japan. This knowledge will help to understand the relationship between changes in the serovar and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella, and define guidelines for improved salmonellosis control which in turn might lead to fever human foodborne salmonellosis cases.

Results

Prevalence and serovars of Salmonella isolated from broiler chickens in Kagoshima, Japan, in 2009–2012

The prevalence of Salmonella in broiler chickens in 2009–2012 in Kagoshima, Japan is presented in Table 1. The prevalence of Salmonella-positive flocks varied slightly from year to year during the study period, and the overall percentage of positive flocks was 49.0% (94/192). The same number of flocks (48 flocks) was collected each year. The percentage of positive flocks was 50.0% in 2009, which decreased dramatically to 39.6% in 2010. However, the trend then changed, and the percentage increased in the next two years to 45.8% in 2011 and 60.4% in 2012. However, there was no significant difference year by year from 2010 to 2012.

Table 1 Prevalence of Salmonella in broilers in Kagoshima, Japan in 2009–2012
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The prevalence of Salmonella among all tested samples was 7.9% (243/3071), and is was highest in 2012, at 8.6%, followed by 8.3% in 2011, 7.8% in 2010, and 6.9% in 2009. These differences were not significant.

The year-to-year changes in the serovars of the Salmonella isolates were investigated, and the results are presented in Fig. 1. The strains of Salmonella isolated from broiler chickens in Kagoshima, Japan (n = 243) in the four year period in 2009–2012 belonged to three serovars, S. Infantis 57.6% (140/243), S. Manhattan 40.3% (98/243), and S. Schwarzengrund 2.1% (5/243).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Change of distribution of Salmonella serovars isolates from broiler in Kagoshima, Japan in the period from 2009 to 2012

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Figure 1 shows a contrasting trend in the number of S. Manhattan and S. Infantis isolates detected from 2009 to 2012. The percentage of S. Infantis isolates decreased gradually, from 66.0% in 2009 to 50.0% in 2011, but increased to 57.6% in 2012, whereas the percentage of S. Manhattan isolates significantly increased from 26.4% in 2009 to 50.0% in 2011 after decreased moderately to 40.9% in 2012.

The highest percentage of S. Schwarzengrund isolates was observed in 2009 (7.6%; 4/53). This serovar was not detected in 2010 or 2011; however 1 isolate (1/66; 1.5%) was detected in 2012.

Antimicrobial resistance phenotypes

The results of the MIC analysis of 243 Salmonella isolates are summarized in Table 2. All 243 strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol, with a MIC ≥32 μg/mL. The rates of resistance were the highest for streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and oxytetracycline, and > 90% of strains were resistant to these antimicrobials; 231 (95.1%) were resistant to streptomycin (MIC ≥ 16 μg/mL), 221 (91.0%) were resistant to sulfamethoxazole (MIC ≥ 512 μg/mL), and 222 (91.4%) were resistant to oxytetracycline (MIC ≥ 16 μg/mL). Many isolates were also resistant to ampicillin (55.1%) and cefotaxime (52.7%). The three antimicrobials with the lowest resistance rates were kanamycin (6.6%), cefoxitin (6.2%), and ofloxacin (1.6%).

Table 2 Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of 243 Salmonella isolates from 2009 to 2012
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Each serovar of Salmonella showed a different resistance prevalence to antibiotics used in the study (Table 3). Serovar S. Infantis and S. Manhattan exhibited resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole and oxytetracycline, ranging from 84.6% (resistance of S. Infantis to sulfamethoxazole) to 96.9% (resistance of S. Manhattan to streptomycin and oxytetracycline), while they were sensitive ofloxacin with a resistance rate of 1.0 and 2.1% in S. Manhattan and S. Infantis, respectively. We also found a significant difference in the antibiotic resistance rates of the two serovars to four other antibiotics. Resistance to cefoxitin, ceftiofur, cefotaxime and ampicillin was 0.0, 92.9, 93.9 and 94.9%, respectively, for S. Manhattan, and 10.7, 25.0, 25.7 and 29.3%, respectively, for S. Infantis. S. Schwarzengrund showed high sensitivity to seven antibiotics with 0% resistance, but exhibited a high resistance (100%) to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole and oxytetracycline (Table 3).

Table 3 Distribution of antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from 2009 to 2012 according to the serovar
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Table 4 shows the prevalence and distribution of different multidrug resistance on each serovar: On overall, 231 Salmonella strains investigated were resistant or intermediately resistant to three or more of the 10 antimicrobial agents tested. Resistance to three antimicrobials was detected in 91 (37.4%) of the isolates. Resistance to four, five and six antimicrobials were detected 18 (7.4%), 9 (3.7%) and 104 (42.8%), respectively.

Table 4 Prevalence and distribution of different multidrug resistance phenotypes among three serovars isolated
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S. Infantis has a variety of resistance to antimicrobials agent examined from sensitive to resistance to eight antimicrobials: 5 strains were sensitive, resistance to three antimicrobials was highest 78 (55.7%), followed by resistance to six, four and five antimicrobials agent at 19 (13.6%); 17 (12.1%) and 8 (5.7%) strains, respectively. Multidrug resistance to more than six antimicrobials was detected in 113 (46.5%) of the isolates, and most of them were S. Manhattan (88/113), all 5 strains of S. Schwarzengrund have three resistance pattern (SSuT).

In Table 5, we have described the resistance proportion of S. Infantis and S. Manhattan to ampicillin, cefotaxime, ceftiofur and cefoxitin for each year during the period 2009–2012. In the course of the four years of study, resistance proportion of S. Manhattan to ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftiofur (from 76.0% for ceftiofur in 2009 to 100% for three different antibiotics in 2012) was much higher than in S. Infantis (7.9% for ceftiofur in 2012 to 52.3% for ampicillin in 2010). On the other hand, all the strains of S. Manhattan (98) were sensitive to cefoxitin, while 10.7% (15/140) of S. Infantis were resistant to cefoxitin in the period of study.

Table 5 The proportion of S. Infantis and S. Manhattan resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftifuor in each year from 2009 to 2012
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To understand the changes in the antimicrobial resistance of the Salmonella isolates over time, we compared our results to data obtained in two previous studies [14, 15]. The comparison is shown in Table 6. In all three studies, all Salmonella strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol, with a MIC ≥ 32 μg/mL. The percentage of antimicrobial-resistant strains was also high for three other antibiotics, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and oxytetracycline, although rates of resistance decreased significantly over time (p < 0.05).

Table 6 Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles in this study and previous studies of Salmonella isolates from broiler chickens in Japan
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In all three studies, we observed a significant increase in the rates of antibiotic resistance for two antibiotics, ampicillin and cefotaxime (p < 0.05). For ampicillin, the resistance rate was 22.4% in 2004–2006, 36.5% in 2007, and 55.1% in the present study period (2009–2012). A similar trend was observed for cefotaxime resistance, with 9.1% in the first study period, 35.5% in the second study period, and 52.7% in 2009–2012.

In contrast, the percentage of ofloxacin-resistant strains decreased dramatically (and significantly) with time across the three study periods, from 20.8% in 2004–2006 to 11.8% in 2007 and 2008, and 1.6% in the present study (p < 0.05).

Discussion

The overall percentages of Salmonella-positive flocks (70.6%) and samples (14%) detected in 1998–2003 [16] were higher than the corresponding percentages in 2004–2012, which is clearly demonstrated in the studies by Shahada et al. [15] and Chuma et al. [14] as well as the present study (Table 1). In 2004–2006, the percentage of positive flocks was 39.2% and the percentage of positive samples was 5.2% [15]. In 2007 and 2008, the respective positive rates were 58.7 and 6.3% [14]. This decline in the percentages of positive flocks and samples described above may be due to the use of certain antibiotics in chicken production in Kagoshima, Japan in 2004–2012.

The prevalence of Salmonella in Kagoshima, Japan observed in the present study (shown in Table 1) was similar to that reported in the Kyushu region of Japan, where 88.0% of cecal samples from broiler flocks were positive for Salmonella [17]. This same rate of positivity for Salmonella infection in the flock in the two studies may be because the studies were conducted in the regions with the same climatic conditions.

The serovar changes among Salmonella isolates were very clear when the present serovars were compared to those in previous studies. In 1998–2003, 93.4% (526/563) of isolates originating from 135 flocks were S. Infantis [16]. In 2004–2006, 100% (193/193) of Salmonella isolates were S. Infantis, whereas in 2007 and 2008, 97.4% (113/116) of Salmonella isolates were S. Infantis, and 2.6% (3/116) were S. Manhattan [2].

Our result demonstrated the same predominant Salmonella serovars (as shown in Fig. 1) as in the other previous studies conducted in Kyushu, Japan. However, there were some differences; for instance, of the 184 Salmonella strains isolated from broiler chickens, 123 were S. Schwarzengrund (O4:d:1,7), 41 were S. Infantis (O7:r:1,5), 9 were S. Manhattan (O6,8:d:1,5), 3 were S. Yovokome (O8:d:1,5), 5 were OUT:d:1,7, and 4 were OUT:r:1,5 [14].

To our knowledge, this is the first study examining serovar changes in Salmonella isolates from broiler chickens over time in Japan. In this study, only three serovars, S. Manhattan, S. Infantis, and S. Schwarzengrund (Fig. 1), were detected. This result is similar to those reported in other countries in Asia (Hyun-Jung [18, 19]), with S. Infantis as the main serovar. Although, the main serovar in some European countries was S. Typhimurium (Terentjeva et al. [20], [21], Wierup et al. [22]). The different Salmonella serovars present in broilers may depend on the region or country due to variations in climate, geographical regions and chicken husbandry practices among countries.

This is also first study to report the relationship between serovar and antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella isolates from broiler chickens in Kagoshima, Japan. In the previous studies, these results were not clearly presented. In China, 457 Salmonella isolates from chickens, pigs, and dairy cows were most commonly resistant to nalidixic acid (39.17%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (39.61%), doxycycline (28.22%), and tetracycline (27.58%) [23]. A study in Serbia showed that 100% of S. Infantis isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and anlidixic acid [24]. In Kagoshima (2007–2008) most Salmonella isolates were S. Infantis; however, the rate of resistance to ofloxacin was only 11.8% [14]. In addition, a study in Iran reported high fluoroquinolone resistance in both S. Infantis and S. Enteritidis isolates [19]. The low fluoroquinolone resistance rates in our study may be explained by the differences in the serovars of Salmonella isolates. There appeared to be a relationship between the serovars of the Salmonella isolates and antimicrobial resistance, especially for ampicillin, cefotaxime, and ofloxacin.

Increased multidrug resistant (MDR) has been reported in Salmonella isolates in many countries. In the study the high level of MDR observed among Salmonella serovars (Table 4) were in agreement with several studies from different countries [19, 23, 25]. Special S. Infantis has wide resistance pattern from zero to eight in total 10 antimicrobials agent were tested.

From Tables 3, Table 5 and Fig. 1. It can be inferred that the resistance rate of Salmonella to certain antibiotics (streptomycin, sulfamethozaxole, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol and ofloxacin) remained unchanged each year during the period 2009–2012. However, the proportion of serovars isolated each year varied. All three isolated serovars were sensitive to chloramphenicol and ofloxacin but resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethozaxole, and oxytetracycline. Since, the number isolated strains of S. Schwarzengrund was very small (5 strains isolated during 2009–2012), it might not be expected to show changes in antimicrobial resistance rate with each year.

In the present study, the percentage of resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftiofur showed a huge difference between S. Manhattan and S. Infantis. The resistance of S. Manhattan to the three antibiotics mentioned above was more than 3 times higher than in S. Infantis in the hold period. In particular, during 2010–2012, the resistance rate of S. Infantis decreased while an opposite trend was observed for S. Manhattan; the resistance rate of S. Manhattan increased eventually to 100%. This indicates a great influence of serovar change on the resistance to the three antibiotics (ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftiofur).

In Kagoshima, Japan, certain antibiotics, such as: ampicillin, enrofloxacin, amoxicillin and doxycycline are used in the treatment of broiler ascites caused by E.coli infection in broiler chicken. That might have affected to the rate of antimicrobial resistance to similar antibiotics, such as β-lactam, tetracycline, in case of Salmonella.

In the previous reports from 2007 to 2008, the prevalence rates of S. Infantis and S. Manhattan were 97.4 and 2.6%, respectively, and the rates of penicillin, cefotaxime, and ofloxacin resistance were 36.5, 35.5, and 11.8%, respectively. In 2004–2006, when all isolates were S. Infantis (100%), the rates of penicillin, cefotaxime, and ofloxacin resistance were 22.4, 9.1, and 20.8%, respectively [14]. In our survey, the percentage of S. Manhattan isolates resistant to ampicillin and cefotaxime was higher than in S. Infantis. From these results, it seems that the increase in the proportion of the S. Manhattan serovar leads to the increase in resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftiofur with each passing year; this observation is supported by data from the present study and from previous studies.

Conclusions

Taken together, our data show that there was no significant change in the prevalence of Salmonella in broiler chickens in Kagoshima, Japan in 2009–2012 when compared to the prevalence in previously surveyed time periods. We have not yet found a definitive pattern in the prevalence of Salmonella and the rates of resistance to some antibiotics. However, when the proportion of S. Manhattan isolates increased, the percentage of penicillin-, cefotaxime- and ceftifour-resistant isolates showed a similar increasing trend. Furthermore, the percentage of ofloxacin-resistant strains decreased when the percentage of S. Infantis isolated decreased.

Continuous research on the relationship between Salmonella isolates serovars and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of each serovar will help reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistant organisms.

Methods

Sampling

We analyzed a total of 3071 cecal specimens derived from 192 broiler flocks (ca. 10.000 birds per flock) collected by prefectural officials at an accredited poultry processing plant during the period 2009–2012. The poultry processing plant released these samples (which would otherwise have been disposed of as waste material) with the approval of prefectural officials and sent them to our laboratory. Typically, 16 randomly selected samples per flocks were collected fortnightly [14].

Salmonella isolation and identification

Samples were collected using sterile techniques, placed in sterile plastic sampling bags, and chilled with ice blocks during transport. Samples were delivered to the Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Kagoshima University, and cultured on the day of arrival. Approximately 1 g of cecal contents was aseptically mixed with 5 mL of sterilized distilled water and homogenized by vortexing. Then, 1 mL of the suspension was pre-enriched in 5 mL of Hajna tetrathionate broth (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and incubated in a water-bath at 42 °C. After 24 h incubation, a loopful of the culture was streaked onto a selective Rambach agar plate, which was incubated at 37 °C for 24 h [16].

Suspected pink colonies were selected from each plate and streaked on nutrient agar slants. Salmonella identification was confirmed by biochemical tests, including fermentation of glucose, lactose and sucrose, hydrogen sulfide production, citrate utilization, lysine decarboxylation, methyl red and indole tests. Serotyping of isolated Salmonella strains was performed with reliable commercial antisera (Difco, Detroit, MI, USA), and the results were interpreted according to the Kaufmann-White scheme [26].

Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)

The antimicrobial susceptibility of the Salmonella isolates was assessed by the agar dilution method on Mueller-Hinton agar (Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke, UK) plates according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (formerly the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards [NCCLS]) [27]. Strains were tested for sensitivity to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, oxytetracycline, kanamycin, ofloxacin, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, ceftiofur. The MIC range was set at 0.25–512 μg/mL for all tested antimicrobial agents. MIC breakpoints were interpreted according to the new criteria established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [28, 29]. Escherichia coli (E. coli) ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 were used as quality control strains.

Statistical analysis

The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant isolates across three study periods was compared by using multiple comparisons. A chi-square test was first performed to detect significant differences for each antimicrobial agent. When the result was significant, a test for multiple comparisons of proportions [30] was then performed.