Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Human Health Implications of Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter spp. in Vermont Backyard Poultry.

Abstract

Introduction: Backyard poultry (BYP) are increasingly linked to cases of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis.

Methods: Between 2022 and 2024, soiled bedding samples from 70 BYP farms were tested for Campylobacter spp. and/or Salmonella enterica.

Results: Nine farms (12.86%) had at least one sample positive for S. enterica, while 19.05% (12/63) tested positive for Campylobacter spp. We sequenced 54 S. enterica isolates from eight farms in this sample and four farms from previous sampling in 2021 (n = 12 total farms) to determine the genetic characteristics of S. enterica from backyard poultry. Salmonella Schwarzengrund was the most common serovar (33%; 18/54) found, followed by Kentucky (16.7%; 9/54) and serovars Hadar (14.8%; 8/54) and Enteritidis (14.8%; 8/54). Though over half of isolates (51.9%; 28/54) exhibited no predicted genotypic or phenotypic resistance to antimicrobials, some serovars such as Salmonella Hadar were resistant to multiple antimicrobials. Four isolates had intermediate phenotypic resistance to ciprofloxacin and two were resistant to ampicillin.

Conclusions: In summary, the frequency of Campylobacter and Salmonella in BYP populations of Vermont may pose a significant public health risk. Although the rate of antimicrobial resistance was low among S. enterica isolates, resistance to medically important antibiotics was observed, and isolate serovars aligned with serovars implicated in human illness in Vermont.