Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa
Background: Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are a major cause of diarrheal diseases in both developed and developing countries. Healthy asymptomatic animals may be reservoirs of zoonotic DEC, which may enter the food chain via the weak points in hygiene practices. Aim: We investigated the preva...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojvr.org/index.php/ojvr/article/view/1963 |
| _version_ | 1818465852003975168 |
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| author | Shima E. Abdalla Akebe L.K. Abia Daniel G. Amoako Keith Perrett Linda A. Bester Sabiha Y. Essack |
| author_facet | Shima E. Abdalla Akebe L.K. Abia Daniel G. Amoako Keith Perrett Linda A. Bester Sabiha Y. Essack |
| author_sort | Shima E. Abdalla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are a major cause of diarrheal diseases in both developed and developing countries. Healthy asymptomatic animals may be reservoirs of zoonotic DEC, which may enter the food chain via the weak points in hygiene practices.
Aim: We investigated the prevalence of DEC along the pig production continuum from farm-to-fork.
Methods: A total of 417 samples were collected from specific points along the pig production system, that is, farm, transport, abattoir and food. E. coli was isolated and enumerated using Colilert. Ten isolates from each Quanti-tray were selected randomly and phenotypically identified using eosin methylene blue agar selective media. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the species and to classify them into the various diarrheagenic pathotypes. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined against a panel of 20 antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and EUCAST guideline.
Results: The final sample size consisted of 1044 isolates, of which 45.40% (474/1044) were DEC and 73% (762/1044) were multidrug-resistant. Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) was the most predominant DEC at all the sampling sites.
Conclusion: The presence of DEC in food animal production environments and food of animal origin could serve as reservoirs for transmitting these bacteria to humans, especially in occupationally exposed workers and via food. Adherence to good hygienic practices along the pig production continuum is essential for mitigating the risk of transmission and infection, and ensuring food safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:51:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d312e44e62af4fd1ad68b4af36e21079 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0030-2465 2219-0635 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:51:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d312e44e62af4fd1ad68b4af36e210792022-12-22T02:30:31ZengAOSISOnderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research0030-24652219-06352022-01-01891e1e1310.4102/ojvr.v89i1.1963673Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South AfricaShima E. Abdalla0Akebe L.K. Abia1Daniel G. Amoako2Keith Perrett3Linda A. Bester4Sabiha Y. Essack5Antimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanAntimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanAntimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanEpidemiology Section, KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture and Rural Development-Veterinary Service, PietermaritzburgBiomedical Resource Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanAntimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanBackground: Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are a major cause of diarrheal diseases in both developed and developing countries. Healthy asymptomatic animals may be reservoirs of zoonotic DEC, which may enter the food chain via the weak points in hygiene practices. Aim: We investigated the prevalence of DEC along the pig production continuum from farm-to-fork. Methods: A total of 417 samples were collected from specific points along the pig production system, that is, farm, transport, abattoir and food. E. coli was isolated and enumerated using Colilert. Ten isolates from each Quanti-tray were selected randomly and phenotypically identified using eosin methylene blue agar selective media. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the species and to classify them into the various diarrheagenic pathotypes. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined against a panel of 20 antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and EUCAST guideline. Results: The final sample size consisted of 1044 isolates, of which 45.40% (474/1044) were DEC and 73% (762/1044) were multidrug-resistant. Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) was the most predominant DEC at all the sampling sites. Conclusion: The presence of DEC in food animal production environments and food of animal origin could serve as reservoirs for transmitting these bacteria to humans, especially in occupationally exposed workers and via food. Adherence to good hygienic practices along the pig production continuum is essential for mitigating the risk of transmission and infection, and ensuring food safety.https://ojvr.org/index.php/ojvr/article/view/1963diarrheagenic e. colimultidrug resistanceintensive pig farmingfarm-to-forklow-income countriessouth africamultiple-antibiotic resistance indexbiosecurity |
| spellingShingle | Shima E. Abdalla Akebe L.K. Abia Daniel G. Amoako Keith Perrett Linda A. Bester Sabiha Y. Essack Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research diarrheagenic e. coli multidrug resistance intensive pig farming farm-to-fork low-income countries south africa multiple-antibiotic resistance index biosecurity |
| title | Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa |
| title_full | Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa |
| title_short | Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa |
| title_sort | food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug resistant diarrheagenic e coli pathotypes focus on intensive pig farming in south africa |
| topic | diarrheagenic e. coli multidrug resistance intensive pig farming farm-to-fork low-income countries south africa multiple-antibiotic resistance index biosecurity |
| url | https://ojvr.org/index.php/ojvr/article/view/1963 |
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