Occurrence and diversity of Gram-negative bacteria isolated in poultry meat marketed in Ungheni, Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The contamination of poultry meat with Gram-negative bacteria constitutes a significant food safety concern due to the potential involvement of these microorganisms in foodborne diseases and the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance determinants. The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and diversity of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from poultry meat products marketed in Ungheni, Republic of Moldova, and to determine their potential public health significance. A total of 17 poultry-derived samples, including minced meat, neck skin, and meat cuts, were subjected to bacteriological analysis. Isolation of bacterial strains was performed using conventional microbiological techniques, while species-level identification was achieved by MALDI-TOF (Bruker). A wide diversity of Gram-negative bacteria was identified among the analyzed samples. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated species (88.2% of samples), followed by Proteus mirabilis, Hafnia alvei, Enterobacter hormaechei, Citrobacter freundii, Aeromonas veronii, and Morganella morganii. Other opportunistic and potentially pathogenic bacteria identified included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Providencia rustigianii. Minced meat samples exhibited the greatest diversity of Gramnegative bacterial species, whereas neck skin samples were characterized by a high prevalence of Escherichia coli and Proteus sp. The predominance and heterogeneity of bacterial isolates observed in minced meat may be associated with increased surface exposure and extensive handling during processing, favoring microbial contamination and proliferation. These findings underscore the necessity for continuous microbiological monitoring, the implementation of stringent sanitary and hygienic control measures, and the strengthening of food safety management systems throughout poultry production and commercialization in order to minimize public health risks associated with contaminated poultry meat in the Republic of Moldova.