Off-label use of ceftiofur in one-day chicks triggers a short-term increase of ESBL-producing E. coli in the gut.

Mauro M S Saraiva,Wondwossen A Gebreyes,Alexandre L B Moreira Filho,Núbia M V Silva,Patrícia E N Givisiez,Celso J B Oliveira,Oliveiro C Freitas Neto,Patrick Butaye

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203158

Mauro M S Saraiva, Wondwossen A Gebreyes + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203158

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Abstract

This trial was designed to evaluate the off-label use of ceftiofur with Marek’s vaccine in one-day-old broiler chicks, a prophylactic treatment that has been done in some commercial hatcheries, on the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli). A total of 168 chicks (Cobb500®) were used in a completely randomized design. Birds were assigned to two treatments (Marek’s vaccine plus saline vs Marek’s vaccine plus ceftiofur) and six repetitions, with 14 animals each. Cloacal swabs were collected from 1 to 14 days post-hatch. The majority (86%; p<0.0001) of the ESBL-producing isolates harboring blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes originated from animals receiving the antimicrobial. None of the isolates were positive for plasmid-mediated AmpC betalactamase genes (blaACC, blaCMY-2, blaDHA, blaFOX, blaMOX and blaMIR). These findings indicate that the off-label use of ceftiofur with Marek’s vaccine is associated with the short-term increase in ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in the gut of chicks.

Highlights

The non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial drugs in farm animals is a common practice for disease control and prevention, or to enhance performance
Third-generation cephalosporins are among the highest priority critically important antimicrobials to human health [3] and their indiscriminate use is of great concern to public health
Five (8.8%) ceftiofur-resistant E. coli were cultured from control group (CG) birds; all from the last sampling day (14 days)

Summary

Introduction

The non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial drugs in farm animals is a common practice for disease control and prevention, or to enhance performance. Previous reports demonstrated the link between the off-label antibiotic use of antimicrobials in animals and the increase in antimicrobial resistance [1,2]. Third-generation cephalosporins are among the highest priority critically important antimicrobials to human health [3] and their indiscriminate use is of great concern to public health. Ceftiofur is commonly administered to day-one chicks together with Marek’s vaccine in certain commercial hatcheries to prevent disease in broilers [4]. Use of ceftiofur in poultry production has been responsible for the increase of resistant E. coli and Salmonella Heidelberg.

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