Distribution analysis of tetracycline resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from floor surface and effluent of pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Background and Aim: Slaughterhouses and their effluents could serve as a "hotspot" for the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. This study aimed to understand the distribution of tetracycline resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from the floor surface and effluent samples of pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Ten samples, each from floor surface swabs and effluents, were collected from 10 pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province. Escherichia coli strains were isolated and identified by referring to the protocol of the Global Tricycle Surveillance extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli from the WHO (2021). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the tet genes. Results: The tetA, tetB, tetC, tetM, tetO, and tetX genes were distributed in the isolates from the floor surface samples, and the tetA, tetC, tetE, tetM, tetO, and tetX genes were distributed in the isolates from the effluent samples. The tetO gene (60%) was the most dominant gene in the isolates from floor surface samples, while the tetA gene was the dominant one in the isolates from the effluent samples (50%). The tetA + tetO gene combination was the dominant pattern (15%) in the E. coli isolates. Conclusion: The high prevalence and diversity of the tet genes in floor surface and effluent samples from pig slaughterhouses in Banten Province indicated that the transmission of the tet genes had occurred from pigs to the environment; thus, this situation should be considered a serious threat to public health. Keywords: effluent, Escherichia coli, pig slaughterhouse, tet gene, tetracycline resistance.

Detection of tetracycline resistance genes and their diversity in Escherichia coli isolated from pig farm waste in Banten province, Indonesia

“…tetX and tetO were the most common genes in the solid waste samples with prevalences of 100% and 75%, respectively, whereas the prevalence of tetA , tetM , tetO , and tetX in wastewater samples was 50%. The previous studies also reported that tetA was dominantly detected in pig feces (44.9% [ 43 ] and 94.7% [ 44 ]), pig farm waste (66.7% [ 45 ]), pig slaughterhouse wastewater (50% [ 37 ]), and the environment (88.9% [ 44 ] and 100% [ 45 ]). Plasmid-mediated tetX (variant tetX4 ) was detected in E. coli from samples of pig feces (31.03%), pig anal swabs (37.93%), farm environments such as water (6.89%), soil (6.89%) [ 46 ], dust (0.9%) [ 47 ], and pig slaughterhouses [ 48 ].…”

“…This significantly high prevalence was attributable to the use of E. coli as a commensal bacterium and the potential of the microbe to cause various digestive tract disorders and other extra-intestinal diseases. Furthermore, this bacterium is widespread and abundant in pig farms [ 12 ], pig slaughterhouses [ 37 ], and the surrounding environment [ 16 , 38 ].…”

Unseen Weapons: Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles and the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Aquatic Environments

“…This highlights the transmission of resistance genes from pigs to the environment, posing a significant public health threat. Another study found that several ARGs were widely present, especially tetA and tetM , with the highest detection rates in samples derived from a wastewater treatment plant in Guangzhou [ 76 ].…”

Bidirectional Interaction between Tetracyclines and Gut Microbiome

“…Tet(X)-producing bacteria carry the tet(X) gene, which encodes a flavin-dependent monooxygenase enzyme that can inactivate tetracyclines. Examples of bacteria that produce Tet(X) include Bacteroides fragilis , Escherichia coli , and Acinetobacter baumannii [ 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 ]. Tet(M)-producing bacteria carry the tet(M) gene, which encodes a ribosomal protection protein that can protect the bacterial ribosome from the inhibitory effects of tetracyclines.…”