Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fecal ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in pigs on large and small farms in Latvia, to characterize beta-lactamase genes and establish an antimicrobial resistance profile. Fecal samples (n = 615) were collected from 4-week, 5-week, 6-week, 8-week, 12-week and 20-week-old piglets, pigs and sows on four large farms (L1, L2, L3, L4) and three small farms (S1, S2, S3) in Latvia. ChromArt ESBL agar and combination disc tests were used for the screening and confirmation of ESBL-producing E. coli. The antimicrobial resistance was determined by the disc diffusion method and ESBL genes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, ESBL-producing E. coli was confirmed on three large farms, L1 (64.3%), L2 (29.9%), L3 (10.7%) and one small farm, S1 (47.5%); n = 144 (23.4%). The prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli differed considerably between the large and small farm groups (26.9% vs. 12.7%). Of ESBL E. coli isolates, 96% were multidrug-resistant (MDR), demonstrating there were more extensive MDR phenotypes on large farms. The distribution of ESBL genes was blaTEM (94%), blaCTX-M (86%) and blaSHV (48%). On the small farm, blaSHV dominated, thus demonstrating a positive association with resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime and cefixime, while on the large farms, blaCTX-M with a positive association to cephalexin and several non-beta lactam antibiotics dominated. The results indicated the prevalence of a broad variety of ESBL-producing E. coli among the small and large farms, putting the larger farms at a higher risk. Individual monitoring of ESBL and their antimicrobial resistance could be an important step in revealing hazardous MDR ESBL-producing E. coli strains and reviewing the management of antibiotic use.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major global public health concerns currently facing humanity
The highest prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli was observed on Farm L1 (64.3%), while among the small farms the prevalence on Farm S1 was 47.5%
The prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli varies widely among farms and higher prevalence was observed in the large farms, small farms are of concern
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major global public health concerns currently facing humanity. In Europe, an estimated 70% of antibiotics are used in the animal sector, increasing the interest in antibiotic consumption in this sector [1]. According to global trends in antibiotic use for food animals, the highest consumption of antimicrobials per kilogram of an animal is in pigs, compared to chickens and cattle [2]. Most of the antibiotics used in pigs are the same or belong to the same classes as those used in human medicine [4]. According to a report from the European Medicines Agency, tetracycline and beta-lactam antibiotics are the most sold antibiotics for food-producing animals in European countries [5,6]. Extended-spectrum penicillin accounts for the major proportion of penicillin subclasses [5]
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