Proteus mirabilis identification in poultry meat obtained in retail centers in Ambato

Abstract

Proteus mirabilis is a bacterium capable of causing pathologies of interest in public health. It occurs commonly in chicken meat. P. mirabilis does not stand out for its pathogenicity levels, but it does stand out for its difficult therapeutic approach once the infection has developed, due to its antibiotic resistance. In this study, 135 samples of chicken meat were collected in several retail centers in Ambato (45 formal sales, 45 informal sales and 45 slaughterhouses). Samples were seeded in selective culture media (McConkey Agar and XLD Agar), Gram staining was used, as well as biochemical tests (Oxidase Test and TSI) and molecular identification were performed by amplifying the 16S DNA ribosomal region, consequently there were 48 samples of P. mirabilis with 17 different strains, NCTC 11938 was the most common. P. mirabilis was mainly identified in formal retail centers, followed by slaughterhouses and informal retail centers. Meet contamination is related to food processing protocols breach. The great prevalence of this bacterium portrays a public concern issue, due to hazards related to meat contamination with it.