Investigating Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Marketed Ready-to-Eat Small Crickets (Acheta domesticus).

The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the occurrence of transferable genes conferring resistance to tetracyclines, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS ), vancomycin, beta-lactams, and aminoglycosides in 32 samples from eight batches of ready-to-eat crickets (Acheta domesticus) commercialized by four European Union producers (two batches per producer). Bacterial DNA extracted directly from the insects was subjected to optimized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested-PCR assays for the qualitative detection of 12 selected antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. Microbial enumeration demonstrated high counts of spore-forming bacteria and total mesophilic aerobes.