Real-time PCR detection and quantification of selected transferable antibiotic resistance genes in fresh edible insects from Belgium and the Netherlands

The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in foodstuffs involves a human health risk. Fresh edible insects present an emerging source of human food but they were not yet assessed in a quantitative way for antibiotic resistances as a matter of food safety. In this study, a real-time quantitative PCR assessment was optimised to detect and quantify relevant transferable antibiotic resistance genes [tet(O, K, M, S) and erm(B)] in edible insects. Subsequently, the technology was applied on 30 fresh insect samples, including two mealworm species and two cricket species from different production... Mehr ...