Detection of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli on Flies at Poultry Farms

Abstract

In the Netherlands, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli bacteria are highly prevalent in poultry, and chicken meat has been implicated as a source of ESBL-producing E. coli present in the human population. The current study describes the isolation of ESBL-producing E. coli from house flies and blow flies caught at two poultry farms, offering a potential alternative route of transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli from poultry to humans. Overall, 87 flies were analyzed in 19 pools. ESBL-producing E. coli bacteria were detected in two fly pools (10.5%): a pool of three blow flies from a broiler farm and a pool of eight house flies from a laying-hen farm. From each positive fly pool, six isolates were characterized and compared with isolates obtained from manure (n ‫؍‬ 53) sampled at both farms and rinse water (n ‫؍‬ 10) from the broiler farm. Among six fly isolates from the broiler farm, four different types were detected with respect to phylogenetic group, sequence type (ST), and ESBL genotype: A 0 /ST3519/SHV-12, A 1 /ST10/SHV-12, A 1 /ST58/SHV-12, and B1/ST448/CTX-M-1. These types, as well as six additional types, were also present in manure and/or rinse water at the same farm. At the laying-hen farm, all fly and manure isolates were identical, carrying bla TEM-52 in an A 1 /ST48 genetic background. The data imply that flies acquire ESBL-producing E. coli at poultry farms, warranting further evaluation of the contribution of flies to dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli in the community. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are increasing in prevalence worldwide (1, 2). ESBLs confer resistance to most beta-lactam antibiotics, including 3rd-and 4th-generation cephalosporins, which severely limits treatment possibilities for infections caused by these bacteria. Often, options for treatment are further restricted by the multiresistant nature of ESBL-producing bacteria, which has led to increased use of, and increasing prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to, last-resort antibiotics, such as carbapenems (3). Although initially ESBL production was mainly observed in hospital infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, today it is also frequently associated with community-acquired infections, mostly urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli (4, 5), as well as commensal E. coli strains isolated from humans and food-producing animals (6-8).Not only can dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli in the community be facilitated by direct contact with human or animal carriers, but also, the presence of the bacterium in environmental compartments, such as surface water (9-12) and wildlife (13), suggests that the environment should also be considered in this regard. In the Netherlands, ESBL-producing E. coli is highly prevalent in poultry: in 2009, ESBL-producing (and/or AmpC-producing) E. coli bacteria were detected on 100% (n ϭ 26) of Dutch broiler farms studied (14). Because of the high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli on Dutch retail chick...

Prevalence and Antibiogram of Generic Extended-Spectrum β-Lactam-Resistant Enterobacteria in Healthy Pigs

“…Studies showed that ESBLs-producing enterobacteria are multidrug resistant (Guandong and Avci, 2013;Blaak et al, 2014). Therefore, the multidrug resistance observed in this study may be as a result of ESBLs that the isolates might have produced (Blaak et al, 2014). The high multidrug resistance exhibited among enterobacterial isolates in this study, portends adverse impact on the food chain in the study area.…”

“…Adenaike et al (2013) reported 89% multidrug resistance among ESBL-resistant E. coli isolates from roasted beef in Northern Nigeria. Studies showed that ESBLs-producing enterobacteria are multidrug resistant (Guandong and Avci, 2013;Blaak et al, 2014). Therefore, the multidrug resistance observed in this study may be as a result of ESBLs that the isolates might have produced (Blaak et al, 2014).…”

“…ESBL-resistant enterobacteria are the most prevalent causes of nosocomial and communityacquired infections globally (Li et al, 2014). These infections are often fatal due to limited therapeutic options, while the treatment option is using the last resort drug carbapenems (Canton et al, 2012;Blaak et al, 2014). This has also resulted in the recent increasing numbers of enterobacterial resistance to the carbapenems (Zurflu et al, 2013;Blaak et al, 2014).…”

“…Thus, ESBL-resistant enterobacterial isolates are multidrug resistant (Li et al, 2014). This multidrug resistance accounts for the limited therapeutic options available for treating infections associated with ESBL-resistant enterobacteria (Blaak et al, 2014). ESBL-resistant enterobacteria are the most prevalent causes of nosocomial and communityacquired infections globally (Li et al, 2014).…”

Prevalence and Antibiogram of Generic Extended-Spectrum β-Lactam-Resistant Enterobacteria in Healthy Dogs

“…It is well known that ESBL-resistant enterobacteria are common cause of community and hospital-associated infections in humans and companion animals (Sun et al, 2010;Rubin and Pitout, 2014). These infections are often fatal due to limited therapeutic options, resorting to the use of carbapenems is usually the treatment option (Dierikx et al, 2012;Blaak et al, 2014). This has resulted in increasing numbers of isolation of carbapenem-resistant organisms (superbugs) from humans and animals, including companion animals, worldwide (Shaheen et al, 2013;Guerra et al, 2014;Yousfi et al, 2015).…”