Identification of Ostriches (Struthio camelus) Gastrointestinal Bacterial Flora and Characterization of the Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Salmonella Serovars Isolated from North-West of Iran

Abstract

This study was aimed to update knowledge on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance
characteristics of Salmonella spp. isolated from ostriches in the North-west of Iran. All 140
samples were collected from feces, feeds and different segments of gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
of 5 healthy adult ostriches. Diagnostic methods used during this study allowed isolation of
sixteen Salmonella strains, belonging to different serotypes. The most frequent serotypes were
S. typhimurium (37.5%) followed by S. enteritidis (31.25%). Among the 16 Salmonella isolates
tested for resistance to 12 different antimicrobials, 8 (50%) isolates belonging to four different
serotypes were multidrug resistant. The first critical component to comprehensive farm-to-fork
strategies in reducing the burden of foodborne illness in the identification of the pathogenic
bacteria in foodstuff with animal source. The different serotypes and antibiotic resistance
profiles that were observed highlights the substantial diversity of Salmonella spp. in Iran, the
contribution of poultry isolates to human salmonellosis and the capacity of Salmonella spp. to
colonize all types of environment worldwide