From Farm to Slaughter: Tracing Antimicrobial Resistance in a Poultry Short Food Chain.

ABSTRACT: Background: Short food supply chains are commonly perceived as more sustainable and safer alternatives to conventional production systems, often linked to organic, free-range livestock practices. Materials and methods: This study investigates, for the first time, the distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and characterizes the microbial communities' composition, using 16S rRNA sequencing and real-time PCR, respectively. Eleven fecal, 76 slaughterhouse surface, 11 cecal, and 11 carcass samples, from 11 poultry farms belonging to the same short food chain, were analyzed in the study. Results: While cleaning and disinfection procedures appeared to reduce the bacterial load on slaughterhouse surfaces, diverse and potentially resistant bacteria, including gen

SUBMITTER: Laconi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12190163 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature