ESBL-Producing, Carbapenem- and Ciprofloxacin-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Belgian and Dutch Broiler and Pig Farms: A Cross-Sectional and Cross-Border Study
Sien De Koster,
Moniek Ringenier,
Christine Lammens,
Arjan Stegeman,
Tijs Tobias,
Francisca Velkers,
Hans Vernooij,
Marjolein Kluytmans-van den Bergh,
Jan Kluytmans,
Jeroen Dewulf,
Herman Goossens,
on behalf of the i-4-1-Health Study Group
Affiliations
Sien De Koster
Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Moniek Ringenier
Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
Christine Lammens
Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Arjan Stegeman
Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tijs Tobias
Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
Francisca Velkers
Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
Hans Vernooij
Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
Marjolein Kluytmans-van den Bergh
Department of Infection Control, Amphia Hospital, 4818 CK Breda, The Netherlands
Jan Kluytmans
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, University of Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
Jeroen Dewulf
Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
Herman Goossens
Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Background. The use of antibiotics in food production selects for resistant bacteria and may cause a threat to human and animal health. Belgium and the Netherlands have one of the highest densities of broilers and pigs in Europe, making active monitoring of antibiotic use and resistance in this region vital. Objectives. This study aimed to quantify ESBL-producing (ESBL-E. coli), carbapenem- and ciprofloxacin-resistant (CiproR) Escherichia coli in animal feces on broiler and pig farms with a history of high antibiotic use in Belgium and the Netherlands. Methods. A total of 779 broiler and 817 pig fecal samples, collected from 29 conventional broiler and 31 multiplier pig farms in the cross-border region of Belgium and the Netherlands, were screened for the presence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli using selective culturing. Results. Carbapenem-resistant E. coli were not detected. ESBL-E. coli were remarkably more prevalent in samples from Belgian than Dutch farms. However, CiproR-E. coli were highly prevalent in broilers of both countries. The percentage of samples with ESBL- and CiproR-E. coli was lower in pig compared to poultry farms and varied between farms. No clear association with the on-farm antibiotic use in the year preceding sampling was observed. Multidrug resistance was frequently observed in samples from both countries, but ESBL-production in combination with ciprofloxacin resistance was higher in samples from Belgium. Conclusions. This study demonstrated marked differences in antibiotic resistance between countries, farms and within farms. The observed variation cannot be explained straightforward by prior quantity of antibiotic use suggesting that it results from more complex interactions that warrant further investigation.
