Speaker
Description
We compared antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and the prevalence of cephalosporin resistant E. coli in organic and conventional fattening pigs and their derived meat in Germany. Boot sock samples were collected from 368 conventional and 131 organic pig farms. At retail, 430 and 306 samples from fresh conventional and organic pork, respectively, were collected. E. coli were isolated using routine methods and a predefined selective procedure targeting E. coli resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 15 antimicrobials for E. coli were tested using broth microdilution, and resistance genes of selectively isolated E. coli were identified using whole genome sequencing.
The proportion of completely susceptible E. coli was higher among isolates from organic farms (77.8 %) than from conventional farms (49.8 %, p<0.05). Likewise, the prevalence of cephalosporin-resistant E. coli was lower in samples from organic farms (13.0 % vs. 36.7 %). Significantly lower resistance rates were observed to ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole among isolates from organic farms. Significant differences were neither found in resistance rates nor in the prevalence of cephalosporin-resistant E. coli in pork. These differences likely arise during the final phase of the fattening period or from the subsequent production steps (i.e. slaughter and processing). Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying reasons.
Keywords
organic production, pigs, E. coli
| Registration ID | 161 |
|---|---|
| Professional Status of the Speaker | Senior Scientist |
| Junior Scientist Status | No, I am not a Junior Scientist. |
