PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA STRAINS ISOLATED FROM INDUSTRIAL QUAIL EGGS AND LOCAL DUCK EGGS, IRAN

Abstract

Salmonella is a worldwide public health issue as one of the reasons for foodborne illness for humans and animals. Eggs can be a significant source of this bacterium and the prevalence of salmonellosis. Thus, the control of contamination by Salmonella has become essential for the consumer. This study investigates the prevalence, and serotype distribution of Salmonella isolates recovered from industrial quail eggs and local duck eggs collected from Qazvin city, Iran, in 2020. In this cross-sectional study, 130 eggs were collected randomly (including 100 industrial quail eggs and 30 local duck eggs) from the retail and stores in Qazvin city, Iran. Salmonella was isolated from eggshells and egg contents using conventional culture methods for selective isolation of Salmonella and biochemical identification, suspect colonies confirmed by Real-Time PCR assay for the amplification and detection of Salmonella using specific primers. A 16.67% prevalence of Salmonella was observed from duck eggs; however, no Salmonella recovered from quail eggs. Salmonella was isolated from 0% (0 groups of 6 groups) and 16.67% (1 group of 6 groups) of eggshells and contents of duck eggs, respectively. Isolates from positive egg samples characterized as S. Typhimurium. Although Salmonella infection was low in this study, Continuous monitoring is required to prevent health hazards associated with poultry products in this area, and the presence of duck eggs can be a public health problem. The results of this study are essential for the government, consumers, regulators of poultry products, producers like poultry farmers.