Resistance Determinants and Their Genetic Context in Enterobacteria from a Longitudinal Study of Pigs Reared under Various Husbandry Conditions
Dominic Poulin‐Laprade, Jean‐Simon Brouard, Nathalie Gagnon, Annie Turcotte, Alexandra Langlois, J. J. Matte, Catherine D. Carrillo, Rahat Zaheer, Tim A. McAllister, Edward Topp, Guylaine Talbot
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that needs to be fought on numerous fronts along the One Health continuum. Vast quantities of antimicrobials are used in agriculture to ensure animal welfare and productivity, and are arguably a driving force for the persistence of environmental and food-borne resistant bacteria. This study evaluated the impact of conventional, organic and other antibiotic-free husbandry practices on the frequency and nature of antimicrobial resistance genes and multidrug resistant enterobacteria. It provides knowledge about the relative contribution of specific resistance determinants to observed antibiotic resistance. It also showed the clear co-selection of genes coding for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and genes coding for the resistance to antibiotics commonly used for prophylaxis or in curative treatments in pig operations.