Genetic Diversity and Incidence of Virulence-Associated Genes ofArcobacter butzleriandArcobacter cryaerophilusIsolates from Pork, Beef, and Chicken Meat in Poland

Abstract

Incidence of 9 virulence-associated genes and genetic diversity was determined in 79A. butzleriand 6A. cryaerophilusisolates from pork, beef, and chicken meat. AllA. butzleriisolates harboured thetlyAgene, and most of them carriedciaB,mviN,pldA,cadF, andcj1349genes.ciaBwas found to occur with higher frequency in poultry if compared with pork (p=0.0007), whileirgAwas more frequent in poultry than in beef (p=0.007). All 6A. cryaerophilusisolates harboured theciaBgene, whilemviNandtlyAwere detected in 3 out of these isolates. Only one isolate carried thecadFgene. All beef-derivedA. cryaerophilusisolates carriedciaB,mviN, andtlyAgenes.A. cryaerophilusisolates from chicken meat harbouredciaBgene only. The pork-derived isolate harbouredciaBandcadFgenes. Seventy-four genotypes were distinguished within 79A. butzleriisolates. Nineteen from 21 isolates derived from beef and pork were found to be closely related toA. butzlerifrom chicken meat. Each of the 6A. cryaerophilusisolates was found to have unique genotype. We demonstrated that closely related genotypes can spread within pork, beef, and chicken meat populations ofA. butzleribut notA. cryaerophilus.