Analysis of bacterial diversity associated with commercial broiler chicken in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is the most widely domesticated animal worldwide. Food biosafety is a great concern for consumers, producers, and public health organizations around the world. The poultry sector contributes 3.1% to the GDP of Pakistan. Infections caused by bacteria and viruses in poultry pose a serious threat to consumer health and economic burden in Pakistan while accurate figures are still unknown due to several factors, including inadequate surveillance, management, monitoring, and infection control. The chicken samples were procured from Shadman, Moon, Karim Block, Tollinten, Jallo and Wapda Town meat market of Lahore, Pakistan. Overall, 63 bacterial strains were isolated from complex and selective media and further processed for characterization. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing of bacterial strains were exhibiting genetic similarity with Proteus, Shigella, Providencia, Escherichia, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Myroides, Enterococcus, Serratia, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Macrococcus and Kluyvera. Bacterial strains were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility testing, swarming motility, and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by using discs of tetracycline, gentamycin, streptomycin and chloramphenicol. Bacterial strains were recorded as resistant to all antibiotics except chloramphenicol. It was confirmed that chicken meat was infested with potential opportunistic human pathogens. To overcome the foodborne illnesses and to control the microbial load, food safety measures should be taken by following the standard protocols. In Pakistan, slaughterhouse environment, their sanitary conditions, storage, and transportation may be responsible in spreading the pathogens to food products.