Abstract:
Objective To reveal the detection status and molecular characteristics of Clostridium perfringens in food in Pudong New Area, providing a scientific basis for the risk assessment and prevention of this pathogen.
Methods In 2023, 111 samples of raw and cooked food were randomly collected monthly from traditional markets and supermarkets at six monitoring sites (Dongming, Tangqiao, etc.) in Pudong New Area, totaling 1 332 samples across the year. C. perfringens was isolated via sulfite-polymyxin-sulfadiazine (SPS) agar and Columbia blood agar. Next-generation sequencing was employed to obtain the whole genome sequences of the strains. Virulence genes, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and drug resistance genes were analyzed based on VFDB, PubMLST, and CGE ResFinder. A phylogenetic tree was established based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Results In 2023, the detection rate of C. perfringens in food in Pudong New Area was 5.78% (77/1 332). All positive samples were meat and meat products, and the detection rate in poultry meat was the highest (28.57%, 29/144). Nine antibiotic resistance genes were detected and the carriage rate of tetA(P) was the highest (89.61%, 69/77). All the isolates carried plc, while 74.03% (57/77) carried cpb2. The 77 isolates were classified into 63 sequence types (STs), with multiple strains clustering closely with human-derived isolates from Shenzhen and Wuhan.
Conclusions Isolates of Clostridium perfringens from meat and meat products in Pudong New Area carry diverse virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes, indicating potential food safety risks.