Clostridioides difficile in raw mechanically separated poultry meat and pasteurized product made from contaminated meat

Majda Biasizzo (Author), Urška Henigman (Author), Jana Avberšek (Author), Urška Jamnikar (Author), Stanka Grebenc (Author)

Abstract

Objectives: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is an important foodborne pathogen found in a wide range of products. This study investigated the occurrence of C. difficile in mechanically separated chicken and turkey meat (MSM) and in pasteurized products made from contaminated MSM. Methods: The presence of C. difficile was analysed in 56 MSM samples (32 from turkey and 24 from chicken) and in six pasteurized meat products made from raw meats previously identified as C. difficile-positive. After enrichment, detection was performed by real-time PCR, and culture on selective media for C. difficile. The iso- lated strains were then characterized by PCR-ribotyping, toxinotyping, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results: C. difficile was detected in 16.1 % of MSM samples via real-time PCR, with a 10.7 % isolation rate. One pasteurized product also tested positive. The six isolates obtained displayed diverse PCR-ribotypes, five of which were toxigenic. Notably, the PCR-ribotypes and sequence types in the pasteurized product differed from those identified in the raw meat used for its production. Conclusions: The presence of C. difficile in raw and subsequently pasteurized meat product indicates that the pathogen can survive the pasteurization process and may be present in such products.

Keywords

Clostridioides difficile;mechanically separated poultry meat;pasteurized products;food;whole-genome sequencing;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2025
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL VF - Veterinary Faculty
UDC:	636.09:577
COBISS:	228527619
ISSN:	1095-8274
Views:	136
Downloads:	61
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 1-5
Issue:	ǂVol. ǂ92, [article no.] 102946
Chronology:	2025
DOI:	10.1016/j.anaerobe.2025.102946
ID:	26043989