Presence of Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use in Sows Are Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Resistance in Their Offspring

Abstract

This study investigated whether antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in apparently healthy sows and antimicrobial administration to sows and piglets influenced antimicrobial resistance in fecal commensal E. coli from piglets. Sixty sows from three herds and three of their piglets were sampled at several time points. Antimicrobial usage data during parturition and farrowing were collected. Clinical resistance was determined for two isolates per sampling time point for sows and piglets using disk diffusion. Only 27.4% of E. coli isolates from newborn piglets showed no resistance. Resistance to one or two antimicrobial classes equaled 41.2% and 46.8% in isolates from sows and piglets, respectively, for the overall farrowing period. Multiresistance to at least four classes was found as frequently in sows (15.6%) as in piglets (15.2%). Antimicrobial resistance in piglets was influenced by antimicrobial use in sows and piglets and by the sow resistance level (p≤0.05). Using aminopenicillins and third-generation cephalosporins in piglets affected resistance levels in piglets (odds ratios [OR] >1; p≤0.05). Using enrofloxacin in piglets increased the odds for enrofloxacin resistance in piglets (OR=26.78; p≤0.0001) and sows at weaning (OR=4.04; p≤0.05). For sows, antimicrobial exposure to lincomycin-spectinomycin around parturition increased the resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine in sows (OR=21.33, OR=142.74, OR=18.03; p≤0.05) and additionally to enrofloxacin in piglets (OR=7.50; p≤0.05). This study demonstrates that antimicrobial use in sows and piglets is a risk factor for antimicrobial resistance in the respective animals. Moreover, resistance determinants in E. coli from piglets are selected by using antimicrobials in their dam around parturition.

Evaluation of the relationship between the biosecurity status, production parameters, herd characteristics and antimicrobial usage in farrow-to-finish pig production in four EU countries

“…In all cases we should keep in mind that the association we found was only minor, with a low ß-coefficient and should therefore not be used as an excuse to increase antimicrobial usage in breeding animals. Furthermore, antimicrobial usage in the sow was recently negative associated with the bacterial gut flora and antimicrobial resistance levels of the piglet [32]. …”

Antimicrobial use and antimicrobial susceptibility in Escherichia coli on small- and medium-scale pig farms in north-eastern Thailand

“…Sows were sampled as antimicrobial use and resistance in E. coli from sows is of epidemiological importance within the herd, as the sow may serve as a reservoir of resistant bacteria and genetic determinants [29]. Whilst the recommendation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) [30] is that samples should be taken from fattener pigs, the approach adopted here was to ensure sufficient number of pigs to sample at each farm, as small-scale farms might not have enough fatteners at the time of visit.…”

Risk factors for quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli in feces from preweaned dairy calves and postpartum dairy cows

“…The fecal microbiota of calves may therefore serve as a reservoir for QREC, causing intractable infections in cattle. Although QREC is less common in feces from older cattle, studies on adult animals indicate that the shedding of some antimicrobial-resistant E. coli increases around parturition (Watson et al, 2012;Callens et al, 2015). The dam's microbiota might therefore be a reservoir of resistant strains for her offspring (Callens et al, 2015).…”

“…Although QREC is less common in feces from older cattle, studies on adult animals indicate that the shedding of some antimicrobial-resistant E. coli increases around parturition (Watson et al, 2012;Callens et al, 2015). The dam's microbiota might therefore be a reservoir of resistant strains for her offspring (Callens et al, 2015). Hence, it is important to elucidate whether QREC is found in the feces of postpartum cows and what factors affect the shedding of QREC from them.…”