Prevalence and resistance to antibacterial agents in strains isolated from poultry products in Northern Kazakhstan.

Background And Aim: is one of the main causative agents of foodborne infections. The source of the pathogen, in most cases, is poultry products. The intensification of poultry farming and the constant and uncontrolled use of antimicrobials has led to an increase in the level of antibiotic resistance, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the level of sensitivity to antimicrobial agents in strains isolated from poultry products in Northern Kazakhstan, as well as to determine the genetic mechanisms of resistance and the presence of integrons.

Materials And Methods: In total, 398 samples of poultry products sold in Northern Kazakhstan were selected. strains were isolated from product samples using microbiological methods. was identified based on morphological, biochemical, and serological methods, as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sensitivity testing for antimicrobial agents was performed using the disk diffusion method. The detection of resistance genes was performed using PCR and gel electrophoresis.

Results: Out of 398 samples of poultry products, a total of 46 isolates were obtained. Most of the isolates belong to the serovar Enteritidis (80.4%). The assessment of sensitivity to antibacterial agents showed that was mainly resistant to nalidixic acid (63%), furadonin (60.9%), ofloxacin (45.6%), and tetracycline (39.1%). In 64.3% of cases, was resistant to three or more groups of antibacterial agents. Resistance genes such as A, B, TEM, A, 3, and II, as well as integrons of two classes (1 and 2), were identified.

Conclusion: Poultry products contain antimicrobial-resistant strains of , as well as genes encoding resistance mechanisms. The results emphasize the need for constant monitoring of not only pathogenic microorganisms but also their sensitivity to antimicrobial agents. The potential threat to human health requires a unified approach to the problem of antibiotic resistance from representatives of both public health and the agroindustrial complex.