Abstract
Livestock-associated bacteria with resistance to two or more antibiotic drug classes have heightened our awareness for the consequences of antibiotic consumption and spread of resistant bacterial strains in the veterinary field. In this study we assessed the prevalence of concomitant colonization with livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) and enterobacteriaceae expressing extended-spectrum betalactamases (ESBL-E) in farms at the German-Dutch border region. Nasal colonization of pigs with MRSA (113/547 (20.7%)) was less frequent than rectal colonization with ESBL-E (163/540 (30.2%)). On the individual farm level MRSA correlated with ESBL-E recovery. The data further provide information on prevalence at different stages of pig production, including abattoirs, as well as in air samples and humans living and working on the farms. Notably, MRSA was detected in stable air samples of 34 out of 35 pig farms, highlighting air as an important MRSA transmission reservoir. The majority of MRSA isolates, including those from humans, displayed tetracycline resistance and spa types t011 and t034 characteristic for LA-MRSA, demonstrating transmission from pigs to humans. ESBL-E positive air samples were detected on 6 out of 35 farms but no pig-to-human transmission was found. Detection of ESBL-E, e.g. mostly Escherichia coli with CTX-M-type ESBL, was limited to these six farms. Molecular typing revealed transmission of ESBL-E within the pig compartments; however, related strains were also found on unrelated farms. Although our data suggest that acquisition of MRSA and ESBL-E might occur among pigs in the abattoirs, MRSA and ESBL-E were not detected on the carcasses. Altogether, our data define stable air (MRSA), pig compartments (ESBL-E) and abattoir waiting areas (MRSA and ESBL-E) as major hot spots for transmission of MRSA and/or ESBL-E along the pig production chain.
Highlights
The use of antibiotics for therapy and growth promotion has led to the selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria and spread of antibiotic resistance genes [2,3,4,5]
Antibiotic resistant bacteria and their resistance determinants in livestock are not restricted to animals: Firstly, with glycopeptide resistance as a prominent example, we have observed that resistance genes can make their way into bacterial species that are more virulent for humans than those where the resistance was first observed [6,7,8]
We analyzed the frequency of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum betalactamases (ESBL-E) in samples obtained from pigs from 35 farms located in the German-Dutch border region as well as two associated abattoirs, the respective farm environment and persons living and working on these farms
Summary
The use of antibiotics for therapy and growth promotion (not allowed in E.U. [1]) has led to the selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria and spread of antibiotic resistance genes [2,3,4,5]. The major threat is the silent spread of colonizing multidrug resistant pathogens among patients with overt risk for acquisition of resistant bacteria and—even worse—into those with no history of hospitalization or travel [15, 16]. These colonizers represent the major source for endogenous infections that occur after surgery, chemotherapy or other medical treatments associated with transient or prolonged immune suppression. The main dangers associated with these infections are aggravation of disease due to unexpected ineffectiveness of antibiotic therapy in a severely ill patient and the uncontrolled spread of these organisms in the hospital environment
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