Zinc and copper in animal feed – development of resistance and co-resistance to antimicrobial agents in bacteria of animal origin

Abstract

Farmed animals such as pig and poultry receive additional Zn and Cu in their diets due to supplementing elements in compound feed as well as medical remedies. Enteral bacteria in farmed animals are shown to develop resistance to trace elements such as Zn and Cu. Resistance to Zn is often linked with resistance to methicillin in staphylococci, and Zn supplementation to animal feed may increase the proportion of multiresistant E. coli in the gut. Resistance to Cu in bacteria, in particular enterococci, is often associated with resistance to antimicrobial drugs like macrolides and glycopeptides (e.g. vancomycin). Such resistant bacteria may be transferred from the food-producing animals to humans (farmers, veterinarians, and consumers). Data on dose-response relation for Zn/Cu exposure and resistance are lacking; however, it seems more likely that a resistance-driven effect occurs at high trace element exposure than at more basal exposure levels. There is also lack of data which could demonstrate whether Zn/Cu-resistant bacteria may acquire antibiotic resistance genes/become antibiotics resistant, or if antibiotics-resistant bacteria are more capable to become Zn/Cu resistant than antibiotics-susceptible bacteria. Further research is needed to elucidate the link between Zn/Cu and antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

A role for copper in protozoan grazing – two billion years selecting for bacterial copper resistance

“…Copper addition in the livestock industry or other environments with copper exposure could select potentially dangerous pathogenic isolates (Yazdankhah et al ., ). In this study, three independent copper resistant E. coli strains isolated from pig feedlots showed different degrees of resistance to predation by both Dictyostelium or Paracercomonos in AS medium (Fig.…”

Phenotypic Copper Resistance in Aerobic Intestinal Bacteria From Children With Different Levels of Copper-Exposure

“…It is possible that, as occurs in soil, exposure to low copper concentrations might strengthen the resistance of microorganisms to a subsequent copper stress [31] . If data on dose-response relation for Cu exposure and resistance are lacking, it seems likely that a resistance-driven effect in animals occurs at high trace element exposure rather than at more basal exposure levels [32] . In normal warm-blooded animals ingested copper is absorbed in the stomach and upper small intestine where the maximal concentrations (eventually reaching 10 mM) are expected to occur [19] .…”

Evaluation of Antioxidant Parameters in Broiler Chicken after Vaccination and Experimental Challenge with Newcastle Disease Virus

“…The role of Se to produce immunoglobulins is crucial (Savaram et al, 2013). The critical function of Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) to accomplish numerous biological functions in both animal and plant cells has been clearly shown (Yazdankhah et al, 2014). In addition, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is a test used to measure the total antioxidant status.…”