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Silva A, Silva V, Dapkevicius MDLE, Azevedo M, Cordeiro R, Pereira JE, Valentão P, Falco V, Igrejas G, Caniça M, Poeta P. Unveiling Antibiotic Resistance, Clonal Diversity, and Biofilm Formation in E. coli Isolated from Healthy Swine in Portugal. Pathogens 2024; 13:305. [PMID: 38668260 PMCID: PMC11054063 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Silva
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Silva
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria de Lurdes Enes Dapkevicius
- IITAA—Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology, University of the Azores (UAc), 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Mónica Azevedo
- Centre for the Studies of Animal Science, Institute of Agrarian and Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, Oporto University, 4049-021 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.)
- CIISA—Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistances and Healthcare Associated Infections (NRL-AMR/HAI), Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui Cordeiro
- Intergados, SA, Av. de Olivença, S/N, 2870-108 Montijo, Portugal;
| | - José Eduardo Pereira
- CECAV—Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Valentão
- Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Universidade do Porto, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (P.V.)
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, No. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Virgílio Falco
- Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Universidade do Porto, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; (P.V.)
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Universidade of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Igrejas
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Manuela Caniça
- Centre for the Studies of Animal Science, Institute of Agrarian and Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, Oporto University, 4049-021 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.)
- CIISA—Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- National Reference Laboratory of Antibiotic Resistances and Healthcare Associated Infections (NRL-AMR/HAI), Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Poeta
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- CECAV—Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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