Antimicrobial use and resistance in Escherichia coli from healthy food-producing animals in Guadeloupe

Abstract

Background Selection pressure exerted by use of antibiotics in both human and veterinary medicine is responsible for increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The objectives of this study were to better understand antimicrobial use in pigs, beef cattle, and poultry on farms on Guadeloupe, French West Indies, and to acquire data on AMR in Escherichia coli in these food-producing animals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 45 farms on Guadeloupe, and practical use of antimicrobials was documented in declarative interviews between March and July 2018. A total of 216 fecal samples were collected between January 2018 and May 2019, comprising 124 from pigs, 75 from beef cattle, and 17 from poultry litter. E. coli isolates were obtained for further testing by isolation and identification from field samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and screening for blaCTX-M, blaTEM, tetA, and tetB resistance genes by polymerase chain reaction on extracted genomic DNA were performed. Results The study showed rational use of antimicrobials, consisting of occasional use for curative treatment by veterinary prescription. Tetracycline was the most commonly used antimicrobial, but its use was not correlated to E. coli resistance. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli isolates were detected in 7.3% of pigs, 14.7% of beef cattle, and 35.3% of poultry. blaCTX-M-1 was the predominant gene found in ESBL-E. coli isolates (68.8%), followed by blaCTX-M-15 (31.3%). Conclusion Despite rational use of antimicrobials, the rate of ESBL-E. coli in food-producing animals in Guadeloupe, although moderate, is a concern. Further studies are in progress to better define the genetic background of the ESBL-E. coli isolates. Graphical abstract

Effect of Intramuscularly Administered Oxytetracycline or Enrofloxacin on Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci, Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase- and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Pigs

“…Tetracycline resistance is often found in ESBL-producing isolates and transmitted with ESBL containing plasmids [86]. In contrast, Gruel et al [33] reported that the use of tetracycline is not correlated to ESBL-producing E. coli. Although tetracycline is not listed as critically important for human treatment [20], there is a great concern since it can promote resistance to other antimicrobials.…”

“…On the other hand, despite rational use of antimicrobials, the rate of ESBL-producing E. coli in livestock, although moderate, is of concern [ 33 ]. Fewer data are available on ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae , since most of the studies are related to ESBL-producing E. coli .…”

“…Thus, the degree of antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals has been correlated with antibiotic usage, since antibiotic administration can act as a selective pressure for resistant bacteria [ 32 , 33 ]. Data presented prove that special care should be taken in the slaughter process to avoid the faecal contamination of pig carcasses since Enterobacteriaceae and enterococci are normally present in the intestinal tract and could be multi-resistant bacteria [ 23 ], resistance tightly linked to selective pressure triggered by antimicrobial treatment.…”

“…Tetracyclines and enrofloxacin are antimicrobials used for the treatment of infectious diseases in livestock. Tetracyclines are used to a great extent in animal infections treatment [ 33 ]. These antibiotics can play a role in the selection of resistant enterococci since tetracycline-resistant enterococci are often resistant to other antimicrobial agents, such as vancomycin [ 19 ].…”

High Prevalence of blaCTXM–1/IncI1-Iγ/ST3 Plasmids in Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates Collected From Domestic Animals in Guadeloupe (French West Indies)

“…The University Hospital of Guadeloupe faced the emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates and a very high incidence of nosocomial ESBL-E infections ( Bastian et al, 2015 ; Breurec et al, 2015 ; Le Terrier et al, 2021 ). A moderate prevalence of ESBL-E (around 5%) was observed in studies on community human urinary tract infections ( Guyomard-Rabenirina et al, 2016 ), on fecal carriage by domestic animals and livestock ( Gruel et al, 2021 ) and on wild fauna ( Guyomard-Rabenirina et al, 2020 ). Guadeloupe is an ideal place to study the circulation of multi-resistant bacteria and resistance genes because of its insularity and small population (395,700 inhabitants) and area (1,436 km 2 ).…”