If you’ve ever hesitated before biting into that delicious piece of chicken, your instincts may be spot on!

A Dangerous Pathogen Unveiled

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have made a shocking revelation: rising levels of Escherichia albertii, a potentially deadly foodborne pathogen, have been found in retail chicken across Bangladesh. Their alarming report highlights significant contamination and worrying resistance to antibiotics, posing serious risks to public health.

What is E. Albertii?

Often overshadowed by its infamous cousin, E. coli, E. albertii is a less-known—but far from harmless—bacterium. First reported in Bangladesh in 2003, this pathogen has been linked to severe gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. In Japan, it has caused mass food poisoning outbreaks that affected over 100 people at once! Despite its growing significance, the understanding of E. albertii is still alarmingly limited.

The Source of Contamination Revealed

"While undercooked chicken is suspected as a major transmission route, we still know very little about how E. albertii spreads, especially in developing nations," says Atsushi Hinenoya, the study's lead author.

To trace this elusive pathogen, researchers collected samples from 17 chicken retail shops in four districts of Bangladesh. They tested everything from chicken meat and organs to worker hand swabs and processing equipment.

Shocking Contamination Rates!

The results? Astounding contamination levels were reported: E. albertii was found in a staggering 63.9% of chicken meat samples and 71.4% of cloacal swabs. Even more concerning, it lurked on human hands (45.5%), processing blades (10%), and bleeding cones (13.3%). These findings indicate a likely cross-contamination during processing.

A Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

Even more alarming, an astonishing 94.4% of E. albertii isolates showed resistance to at least one antibiotic, with half being multidrug-resistant. This included resistance to critical antibiotics like tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Whole genome sequencing further confirmed the presence of genetic resistance and virulence factors that enable this pathogen to wreak havoc on health.

Time for Action!

Hinenoya stresses the pressing need for improved hygiene practices in poultry processing, tougher regulations on antibiotic use, and enhanced monitoring systems to prevent foodborne outbreaks.

What's Next?

Determined to tackle this public health threat, researchers plan to study human infections, track bacterial strains between poultry and patients, and map out the pathways of contamination.

"Given the global movement of food and people, combating E. albertii demands international cooperation," warns Hinenoya. "Our mission is to amplify molecular epidemiology efforts and intervention strategies in Bangladesh to halt its spread!"

Stay Informed!

This research was published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, raising alarms that we must heed to protect our public health.