Occurrence of multidrug resistance associated with extended-spectrum β‑lactamase and the biofilm forming ability of Escherichia coli in environmental swine husbandry

Watcharapong Mitsuwan; Sutsiree Intongead; Phirabhat Saengsawang; Chonticha Romyasamit; Ruethai Narinthorn; Veeranoot Nissapatorn; Maria de Lourdes Pereira; Alok K Paul; Tuempong Wongtawan; Ratchadaporn Boripun

doi:10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102093

Occurrence of multidrug resistance associated with extended-spectrum β‑lactamase and the biofilm forming ability of Escherichia coli in environmental swine husbandry

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2023 Dec:103:102093. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102093. Epub 2023 Nov 11.

Affiliations

¹ Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Innovation of Essential Oil and Bio-active compound, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
² Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
³ Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
⁴ School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
⁵ School of Allied Health Sciences, Southeast Asia Water Team (SEA Water Team), World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), and Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
⁶ CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
⁷ School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS 7001, Australia.
⁸ Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand. Electronic address: ratchadaporn.bo@wu.ac.th.

PMID: 37976973
DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102093

Abstract

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and biofilm formation are mechanisms employed by Escherichia coli to resist beta-lactam antibiotics. Thus, we aimed to examine antibiotic resistance associated with ESBL production and biofilm formation in E. coli isolates from swine farms in Southern Thailand. In total, 159 E. coli isolates were obtained, with 44 isolates identified as ESBL producers, originating from feces (18.87 %) and wastewater (8.80 %) samples. All ESBL-producing strains exhibited resistance to ampicillin (100 %), followed by the cephalosporin group (97.73 %) and tetracycline (84.09 %). Multidrug resistance was observed in 17 isolates (38.63 %). Among the isolates from feces samples, the bla_GES gene was the most prevalent, detected in 90 % of the samples, followed by bla_CTX-M9 (86.67 %) and bla_CTX-M1 (66.67 %), respectively. In the bacteria isolated from wastewater, both bla_GES and bla_CTX-M9 genes were the predominant resistance genes, detected in 100 % of the isolates, followed by bla_CTX-M1 (64.29 %) and bla_TEM (50 %), respectively. Strong biofilm formation was observed in 11 isolates (36.67 %) from feces and 4 isolates (25.57 %) from wastewater samples. Notably, nearly 100 % of ESBL-producing strains isolated from feces tested positive for both pgaA and pgaC genes, which play a role in intracellular adhesion and biofilm production. These findings contribute to the understanding and potential control of ESBL-producing E. coli, and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and biofilm-related genes in swine farms.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Biofilms; Environment; Escherichia coli; Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; Swine farms.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
Biofilms
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli Infections* / epidemiology
Escherichia coli Infections* / veterinary
Escherichia coli Proteins*
Swine
Swine Diseases*
Wastewater
beta-Lactamases / genetics

Substances

Wastewater
beta-Lactamases
Anti-Bacterial Agents
pgaA protein, E coli
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
Escherichia coli Proteins