Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China

Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) poses a critical threat to livestock health and food safety, particularly in regard to misuse of antimicrobial agents, which have accelerated the evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ETEC strains, reshaping their virulence landscapes and e...

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Main Authors: Jiajia Zhu, Zewen Liu, Siyi Wang, Ting Gao, Wei Liu, Keli Yang, Fangyan Yuan, Qiong Wu, Chang Li, Rui Guo, Yongxiang Tian, Danna Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/7/1188
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author Jiajia Zhu
Zewen Liu
Siyi Wang
Ting Gao
Wei Liu
Keli Yang
Fangyan Yuan
Qiong Wu
Chang Li
Rui Guo
Yongxiang Tian
Danna Zhou
author_facet Jiajia Zhu
Zewen Liu
Siyi Wang
Ting Gao
Wei Liu
Keli Yang
Fangyan Yuan
Qiong Wu
Chang Li
Rui Guo
Yongxiang Tian
Danna Zhou
author_sort Jiajia Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) poses a critical threat to livestock health and food safety, particularly in regard to misuse of antimicrobial agents, which have accelerated the evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ETEC strains, reshaping their virulence landscapes and epidemiological trajectories. In this study, 24 ETEC isolates from porcine diarrheal samples undergo genomic and phenotypic profiling, including virulence genotyping, bacterial adhesion, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) analysis. Results show that multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) outputs (ST88, ST100) and serotypes (O9:H19, O116:H11, O149:H10) exhibited enhanced virulence, with F18ab-fimbriated strains carrying Shiga toxin genes (<i>stx2A</i>) demonstrating higher cytotoxicity than non-<i>stx</i> strains. There exists a significant negative correlation between bacterial growth rates and intestinal epithelial adhesion, with the expression of ETEC adhesion and virulence genes being growth-time-dependent. These relationships suggest evolutionary trade-offs favoring either rapid proliferation or virulence. Among these isolates, 95.8% were MDR, with alarming resistance to quinolones and aminoglycosides. Geospatial analysis identified region-specific AMR gene clusters, notably <i>oqxB-aac(3)</i> co-occurrence networks in 79% of ETEC isolates. These results highlight the urgent need for precision interventions, including vaccines targeting epidemic serotypes and AMR monitoring systems to disrupt resistance propagation across swine production networks. By underscoring the importance of current virulence and AMR profiles, this study provides actionable strategies to mitigate ETEC-associated threats to both animal welfare and meat safety ecosystems.
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spelling doaj-art-6da7c7fbfe9a4cacab72fec5b4c00c772025-08-20T02:09:13ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-03-01147118810.3390/foods14071188Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in ChinaJiajia Zhu0Zewen Liu1Siyi Wang2Ting Gao3Wei Liu4Keli Yang5Fangyan Yuan6Qiong Wu7Chang Li8Rui Guo9Yongxiang Tian10Danna Zhou11Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaEnterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) poses a critical threat to livestock health and food safety, particularly in regard to misuse of antimicrobial agents, which have accelerated the evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ETEC strains, reshaping their virulence landscapes and epidemiological trajectories. In this study, 24 ETEC isolates from porcine diarrheal samples undergo genomic and phenotypic profiling, including virulence genotyping, bacterial adhesion, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) analysis. Results show that multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) outputs (ST88, ST100) and serotypes (O9:H19, O116:H11, O149:H10) exhibited enhanced virulence, with F18ab-fimbriated strains carrying Shiga toxin genes (<i>stx2A</i>) demonstrating higher cytotoxicity than non-<i>stx</i> strains. There exists a significant negative correlation between bacterial growth rates and intestinal epithelial adhesion, with the expression of ETEC adhesion and virulence genes being growth-time-dependent. These relationships suggest evolutionary trade-offs favoring either rapid proliferation or virulence. Among these isolates, 95.8% were MDR, with alarming resistance to quinolones and aminoglycosides. Geospatial analysis identified region-specific AMR gene clusters, notably <i>oqxB-aac(3)</i> co-occurrence networks in 79% of ETEC isolates. These results highlight the urgent need for precision interventions, including vaccines targeting epidemic serotypes and AMR monitoring systems to disrupt resistance propagation across swine production networks. By underscoring the importance of current virulence and AMR profiles, this study provides actionable strategies to mitigate ETEC-associated threats to both animal welfare and meat safety ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/7/1188Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>MLSTserotypesvirulence genesminimum inhibitory concentrationantimicrobial resistance genes
spellingShingle Jiajia Zhu
Zewen Liu
Siyi Wang
Ting Gao
Wei Liu
Keli Yang
Fangyan Yuan
Qiong Wu
Chang Li
Rui Guo
Yongxiang Tian
Danna Zhou
Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China
Foods
Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>
MLST
serotypes
virulence genes
minimum inhibitory concentration
antimicrobial resistance genes
title Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China
title_full Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China
title_fullStr Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China
title_short Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Pig Farms in China
title_sort prevalence molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance profile of enterotoxigenic i escherichia coli i isolates from pig farms in china
topic Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>
MLST
serotypes
virulence genes
minimum inhibitory concentration
antimicrobial resistance genes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/7/1188
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