Abstract
Simple SummaryData on the bacterial pathogens and the frequency of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in New Zealand’s pork industry are limited. This study describes bacterial isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility data, and multidrug resistance (MDR; resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) from New Zealand pig submissions. Porcine bacterial culture test results from June 2003 to February 2016 were obtained from commercial veterinary pathology laboratory records. In total, 470/477 unique submissions resulted in bacterial growth, yielding 779 isolates. Sample type was recorded for 75.5%; lung (21.9%), faecal (16.9%) and intestinal (12.5%) were most common. The most common isolates were Escherichia coli (23.9%), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (5.5%), Streptococcus suis (5.5%), unidentified Campylobacter spp. (4.9%), alpha hemolytic Streptococci (4.1%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. (3.3%), and Pasteurella multocida (3.2%). Susceptibility results were available for 141/779 (18.1%) isolates from 62/470 (13.2%) submissions. Most were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulphonamide (92.6%), but fewer were susceptible to penicillin (48.1%), tilmicosin (41.9%), or tetracyclines (36.0%). No susceptibility data were for available Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., or Yersinia spp. isolates. MDR occurred in 42.6% of tested isolates. Data on sample submission drivers, antimicrobial drug use, and susceptibilities of important porcine bacterial isolates are required to inform guidelines for prudent antimicrobial use, to reduce their prevalence and MDR.Data on the scope of bacterial pathogens present and the frequency of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in New Zealand’s pigs are limited. This study describes bacterial isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility data, and multidrug resistance (MDR; resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) from New Zealand pig submissions. Porcine test data from June 2003 to February 2016 were obtained from commercial veterinary pathology laboratory records. In total, 470/477 unique submissions resulted in bacterial growth, yielding 779 isolates. Sample type was recorded for 360/477 (75.5%); lung (79/360; 21.9%), faecal (61/360; 16.9%) and intestinal (45/360; 12.5%) were most common. The most common isolates were Escherichia coli (186/779, 23.9%), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (43/779; 5.5%), Streptococcus suis (43/779; 5.5%), unidentified Campylobacter spp. (38/779; 4.9%), alpha haemolytic Streptococci (32/779; 4.1%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. (26/779; 3.3%), and Pasteurella multocida (25/779; 3.2%). Susceptibility results were available for 141/779 (18.1%) isolates from 62/470 (13.2%) submissions. Most were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulphonamide (75/81; 92.6%), but fewer were susceptible to penicillin (37/77; 48.1%), tilmicosin (18/43; 41.9%), or tetracyclines (41/114; 36.0%). No susceptibility data were available for Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., or Yersinia spp. isolates. MDR was present in 60/141 (42.6%) isolates. More data on sample submission drivers, antimicrobial drug use, and susceptibilities of important porcine bacterial isolates are required to inform guidelines for prudent antimicrobial use, to reduce their prevalence, human transmission, and to minimise AMR and MDR.
Highlights
Increased recognition of the consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals has led to monitoring and surveillance programs in many countries, often specific to the species being monitored [1]
This is the first report on the breadth of bacterial species, antimicrobial susceptibility and multidrug resistance (MDR)
MDR rates are higher in pigs and those recently reported for other New Zealand livestock species
Summary
Increased recognition of the consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals has led to monitoring and surveillance programs in many countries, often specific to the species being monitored [1]. AMR surveillance for bacterial isolates recovered from food animal species in New Zealand falls within the latter approach, relying upon the monitoring of abattoir samples for public health purposes, without direct surveillance of livestock populations. Such surveillance may be more critical within intensive food animal sectors, such as the pig industry, where the use of antibiotics within feedstuffs [3,4] may contribute to levels of antimicrobial resistance in clinically ill and healthy animals [5,6,7].
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