Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms

Abstract Background Despite their indispensability in human medicine, fluoroquinolones (FQ) are used for the treatment of bacterial infections in farm animals which increases the risk of transferring FQ-resistant bacteria into the environment and via the food chain to humans. The objectives of this...

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Main Authors: Morena Amsler, Katrin Zurfluh, Sonja Hartnack, Xaver Sidler, Roger Stephan, Dolf Kümmerlen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-04-01
Series:Porcine Health Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-021-00209-y
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author Morena Amsler
Katrin Zurfluh
Sonja Hartnack
Xaver Sidler
Roger Stephan
Dolf Kümmerlen
author_facet Morena Amsler
Katrin Zurfluh
Sonja Hartnack
Xaver Sidler
Roger Stephan
Dolf Kümmerlen
author_sort Morena Amsler
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite their indispensability in human medicine, fluoroquinolones (FQ) are used for the treatment of bacterial infections in farm animals which increases the risk of transferring FQ-resistant bacteria into the environment and via the food chain to humans. The objectives of this observational study were to follow-up of the presence of quinolone non-susceptible Escherichia coli (QNSE) qualitatively and quantitatively in faecal samples of pigs at four time points (2 weeks old, 4 weeks old, 2 weeks post weaning and during fattening period). Moreover differences between groups of FQ-treated pigs, pigs with contact to treated pigs and control pigs were investigated. Additionally, quinolone and FQ resistance of Escherichia coli isolates of the faecal samples were investigated by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Results 40.9% of 621 fecal samples contained QNSE. Proportion of samples with detectable QNSE from treated and contact pigs did not differ significantly and were highest in piglets of 2 and 4 weeks of age. However, the proportions of samples with QNSE were significantly lowest in control pigs (7/90; 7.8%; CI = 3.5–14.7%) among all groups. Also, the number of colony-forming units was lowest in both weaners and fattening pigs of the control group compared to treated and contact groups. Following CLSI human breakpoints, in total, 50.4% out of 254 isolates in faecal samples were intermediate or resistant to ciprofloxacin. Conclusions QNSE were present in faeces of pigs independent of age or FQ background but significantly less were found in pigs from farms without FQ usage. Due to the long half-life of FQ, it is likely that only a prolonged absence of fluoroquinolone treatments in pig farming will lead to a reduced frequency of QNSE in the farm environment. Solutions need to be found to minimise the emergence and transfer of quinolone and FQ-resistant bacteria from treated pigs to contact pigs and to farms without FQ usage.
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spelling doaj.art-e709dc51b4544531891115650a52c1792022-12-21T22:27:35ZengBMCPorcine Health Management2055-56602021-04-017111110.1186/s40813-021-00209-yOccurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farmsMorena Amsler0Katrin Zurfluh1Sonja Hartnack2Xaver Sidler3Roger Stephan4Dolf Kümmerlen5Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichInstitute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichSection of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichDepartment of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichInstitute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichDepartment of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichAbstract Background Despite their indispensability in human medicine, fluoroquinolones (FQ) are used for the treatment of bacterial infections in farm animals which increases the risk of transferring FQ-resistant bacteria into the environment and via the food chain to humans. The objectives of this observational study were to follow-up of the presence of quinolone non-susceptible Escherichia coli (QNSE) qualitatively and quantitatively in faecal samples of pigs at four time points (2 weeks old, 4 weeks old, 2 weeks post weaning and during fattening period). Moreover differences between groups of FQ-treated pigs, pigs with contact to treated pigs and control pigs were investigated. Additionally, quinolone and FQ resistance of Escherichia coli isolates of the faecal samples were investigated by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Results 40.9% of 621 fecal samples contained QNSE. Proportion of samples with detectable QNSE from treated and contact pigs did not differ significantly and were highest in piglets of 2 and 4 weeks of age. However, the proportions of samples with QNSE were significantly lowest in control pigs (7/90; 7.8%; CI = 3.5–14.7%) among all groups. Also, the number of colony-forming units was lowest in both weaners and fattening pigs of the control group compared to treated and contact groups. Following CLSI human breakpoints, in total, 50.4% out of 254 isolates in faecal samples were intermediate or resistant to ciprofloxacin. Conclusions QNSE were present in faeces of pigs independent of age or FQ background but significantly less were found in pigs from farms without FQ usage. Due to the long half-life of FQ, it is likely that only a prolonged absence of fluoroquinolone treatments in pig farming will lead to a reduced frequency of QNSE in the farm environment. Solutions need to be found to minimise the emergence and transfer of quinolone and FQ-resistant bacteria from treated pigs to contact pigs and to farms without FQ usage.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-021-00209-yFluoro−/quinolone resistancePigsEscherichia coliFaecal samplesEnvironmental samples
spellingShingle Morena Amsler
Katrin Zurfluh
Sonja Hartnack
Xaver Sidler
Roger Stephan
Dolf Kümmerlen
Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms
Porcine Health Management
Fluoro−/quinolone resistance
Pigs
Escherichia coli
Faecal samples
Environmental samples
title Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms
title_full Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms
title_fullStr Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms
title_full_unstemmed Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms
title_short Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms
title_sort occurrence of escherichia coli non susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone treated contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 swiss pig farms
topic Fluoro−/quinolone resistance
Pigs
Escherichia coli
Faecal samples
Environmental samples
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-021-00209-y
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