Escherichia coli, a commensal microorganism found in the gastrointestinal tract of human and animal hosts, plays a central role in agriculture and public health. Global demand for animal products has promoted increased pig farming, leading to growing concerns about the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains in swine populations. It should be noted that a significant portion of antibiotics deployed in swine management belong to the critically important antibiotics (CIA) class, which should be reserved for human therapeutic applications. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of antibiotic resistance, genetic diversity, virulence characteristics, and biofilm formation of E. coli strains in healthy pigs from various farms across central Portugal. Our study revealed high levels of antibiotic resistance, with resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, tobramycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Multidrug resistance is widespread, with some strains resistant to seven different antibiotics. The ampC gene, responsible for broad-spectrum resistance to cephalosporins and ampicillin, was widespread, as were genes associated with resistance to sulfonamide and beta-lactam antibiotics. The presence of high-risk clones, such as ST10, ST101, and ST48, are a concern due to their increased virulence and multidrug resistance profiles. Regarding biofilm formation, it was observed that biofilm-forming capacity varied significantly across different compartments within pig farming environments. In conclusion, our study highlights the urgent need for surveillance and implementation of antibiotic management measures in the swine sector. These measures are essential to protect public health, ensure animal welfare, and support the swine industry in the face of the growing global demand for animal products.
Keywords: Escherichia coli; animal production; antimicrobial resistance; food safety; multi-resistance; swine farms.