Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia
Postweaning diarrhea (PWD) is a multifactorial concern in the swine industry that leads to high antibiotic consumption, usually without testing susceptibility, increasing the risk of the selection of <i>Escherichia coli</i>-resistant strains. In this study, 251 <i>E. coli</i>...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/487 |
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| author | Biel Garcias Marga Martin Laila Darwich |
| author_facet | Biel Garcias Marga Martin Laila Darwich |
| author_sort | Biel Garcias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Postweaning diarrhea (PWD) is a multifactorial concern in the swine industry that leads to high antibiotic consumption, usually without testing susceptibility, increasing the risk of the selection of <i>Escherichia coli</i>-resistant strains. In this study, 251 <i>E. coli</i> strains isolated from fecal samples of diarrheic (n = 148) and apparently healthy piglets (n = 103) in farms in Catalonia were tested against their susceptibility to fourteen different antimicrobials. The phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing revealed high levels of AMR, with 41.4% of the isolates presenting a multidrug-resistant (MDR) profile. More specifically, resistance to class D (prudence) antimicrobials such as erythromycin (99.6%), amoxicillin (95.2%), streptomycin (91.6%), tetracycline (88.8%), lincospectin (64.5%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (60%) was very high, as well as to class C (caution) antimicrobials such as florfenicol (45%). A special concern was observed for antimicrobial category B (restrict), like quinolones and colistin, that both presented a high rate of resistance. Colistin use was substantially reduced in Spain, but resistance is still present in weaned pigs, presenting a MIC90 of 4 μg/mL. This suggests that reducing antibiotic use is not enough to eliminate this AMR. Finally, it was found that piglets suffering diarrhea were more commonly carriers of MDR strains than the healthy ones (49.3% vs. 35%, <i>p</i> = 0.031). Therefore, given the high rates of resistance to the most commonly used antimicrobials, especially in diseased pigs, a new non-antibiotic-based approach should be implemented for the management of PWD. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:01:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-501c7c985f7c43f6891252ad26b0ae232024-02-09T15:06:53ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-02-0114348710.3390/ani14030487Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in CataloniaBiel Garcias0Marga Martin1Laila Darwich2Department Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Veterinary School, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, SpainDepartment Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Veterinary School, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, SpainDepartment Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Veterinary School, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, SpainPostweaning diarrhea (PWD) is a multifactorial concern in the swine industry that leads to high antibiotic consumption, usually without testing susceptibility, increasing the risk of the selection of <i>Escherichia coli</i>-resistant strains. In this study, 251 <i>E. coli</i> strains isolated from fecal samples of diarrheic (n = 148) and apparently healthy piglets (n = 103) in farms in Catalonia were tested against their susceptibility to fourteen different antimicrobials. The phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing revealed high levels of AMR, with 41.4% of the isolates presenting a multidrug-resistant (MDR) profile. More specifically, resistance to class D (prudence) antimicrobials such as erythromycin (99.6%), amoxicillin (95.2%), streptomycin (91.6%), tetracycline (88.8%), lincospectin (64.5%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (60%) was very high, as well as to class C (caution) antimicrobials such as florfenicol (45%). A special concern was observed for antimicrobial category B (restrict), like quinolones and colistin, that both presented a high rate of resistance. Colistin use was substantially reduced in Spain, but resistance is still present in weaned pigs, presenting a MIC90 of 4 μg/mL. This suggests that reducing antibiotic use is not enough to eliminate this AMR. Finally, it was found that piglets suffering diarrhea were more commonly carriers of MDR strains than the healthy ones (49.3% vs. 35%, <i>p</i> = 0.031). Therefore, given the high rates of resistance to the most commonly used antimicrobials, especially in diseased pigs, a new non-antibiotic-based approach should be implemented for the management of PWD.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/487<i>Escherichia coli</i>antimicrobial resistancepostweaning diarrhea |
| spellingShingle | Biel Garcias Marga Martin Laila Darwich Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia Animals <i>Escherichia coli</i> antimicrobial resistance postweaning diarrhea |
| title | Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia |
| title_full | Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia |
| title_short | Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolated from Diarrheic and Healthy Weaned Pigs in Catalonia |
| title_sort | characterization of antimicrobial resistance in i escherichia coli i isolated from diarrheic and healthy weaned pigs in catalonia |
| topic | <i>Escherichia coli</i> antimicrobial resistance postweaning diarrhea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/487 |
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