Mecanismos de adaptação microbiana no processamento da carne de frango e sua presença em sorovares de casos de salmonelose no Brasil: revisão integrativa

Introduction: Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of chicken meat. Poultry and poultry products are often associated with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) contamination. Reports on antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) NTS serovars in isolates from Brazilian poultry farms and products are concerning. In response, interventions are implemented in poultry chains to remove microbial contaminants, but they may also exert selective bacterial pressure. Objective: To characterize the adaptation mechanisms occurring in Salmonella throughout chicken meat processing and to determine whether these mechanisms are present in antimicrobial-resistant serovars commonly reported in avian-associated salmonellosis cases in Brazil. Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science databases. A total of 823 studies were selected between 2017 and 2023. Results: Currently, the primary serovars of NTS isolated from Brazilian poultry products are S. Minnesota and Heidelberg. Antimicrobial resistance genes and multidrug resistance were detected in both serovars. However, there are no official data on cases of antimicrobial-resistant infections in humans caused by S. Minnesota and Heidelberg in Brazil, which complicates the assessment of the impact of these serovars on the country’s public health. Conclusions: The presence of NTS and the substitution of serovars over the past decade have been observed throughout the Brazilian poultry production chain. However, there are no official data identifying the serovars and antimicrobial resistance in cases of salmonellosis in Brazil. This review suggested that this information is crucial for understanding the adaptation of these serovars in poultry processing facilities and for the development of effective strategies to control and prevent the emergence of AMR.