Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs

<b>Background:</b> Early gut microbiome development is critical for neonatal health, and its dysbiosis may impact long-term animal productivity. This study examined the effects of parenteral Ceftiofur Crystalline Free Acid (CCFA) on the composition and diversity of the neonatal lamb feca...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohamed Donia, Nasr-Eldin Aref, Mohamed Zeineldin, Ameer Megahed, Benjamin Blair, James Lowe, Brian Aldridge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Antibiotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/5/434
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849327497946071040
author Mohamed Donia
Nasr-Eldin Aref
Mohamed Zeineldin
Ameer Megahed
Benjamin Blair
James Lowe
Brian Aldridge
author_facet Mohamed Donia
Nasr-Eldin Aref
Mohamed Zeineldin
Ameer Megahed
Benjamin Blair
James Lowe
Brian Aldridge
author_sort Mohamed Donia
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Early gut microbiome development is critical for neonatal health, and its dysbiosis may impact long-term animal productivity. This study examined the effects of parenteral Ceftiofur Crystalline Free Acid (CCFA) on the composition and diversity of the neonatal lamb fecal microbiome. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance genes associated with CCFA exposure was also investigated. <b>Results:</b> There were distinct microbial populations in the CCFA-treated lambs compared to the control group at each time point, with a highly significant decrease in alpha and beta diversity. The CCFA treatment showed a reduction in several key microbial taxa during nursing, but these differences were diminished by day 56. Unlike the control group, CCFA-treated lambs had core microbes potentially carrying multiple antibiotic resistance genes, including those for beta-lactam, fosfomycin, methicillin, and multidrug resistance. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-four healthy neonatal lambs were randomly assigned to CCFA-treated (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. Fecal samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 28, and 56. Genomic DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Microbial composition was analyzed using the MG-RAST pipeline with the RefSeq database. <b>Conclusions:</b> Despite temporary reductions in critical bacterial populations during nursing, the early sheep fecal microbiome demonstrated resilience by repopulating after CCFA antibiotic disruption. While this highlights microbiota stability after short-course antibiotic exposure, the transient disturbance underscores potential risks to early gut health. Importantly, persistent CCFA resistance poses environmental dissemination risks, emphasizing the need for cautious antibiotic use in livestock to mitigate ecological impacts.
format Article
id doaj-art-7e2f1475f1e84ccab87ef54f8baa5832
institution Kabale University
issn 2079-6382
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Antibiotics
spelling doaj-art-7e2f1475f1e84ccab87ef54f8baa58322025-08-20T03:47:52ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-04-0114543410.3390/antibiotics14050434Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal LambsMohamed Donia0Nasr-Eldin Aref1Mohamed Zeineldin2Ameer Megahed3Benjamin Blair4James Lowe5Brian Aldridge6Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USADepartment of Animal Medicine (Internal Medicine), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, EgyptDepartment of Animal Medicine (Internal Medicine), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor-Toukh 13736, EgyptDepartment of Animal Medicine (Internal Medicine), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor-Toukh 13736, EgyptIntegrated Food Animal Management Systems, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USAIntegrated Food Animal Management Systems, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USADepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA<b>Background:</b> Early gut microbiome development is critical for neonatal health, and its dysbiosis may impact long-term animal productivity. This study examined the effects of parenteral Ceftiofur Crystalline Free Acid (CCFA) on the composition and diversity of the neonatal lamb fecal microbiome. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance genes associated with CCFA exposure was also investigated. <b>Results:</b> There were distinct microbial populations in the CCFA-treated lambs compared to the control group at each time point, with a highly significant decrease in alpha and beta diversity. The CCFA treatment showed a reduction in several key microbial taxa during nursing, but these differences were diminished by day 56. Unlike the control group, CCFA-treated lambs had core microbes potentially carrying multiple antibiotic resistance genes, including those for beta-lactam, fosfomycin, methicillin, and multidrug resistance. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-four healthy neonatal lambs were randomly assigned to CCFA-treated (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. Fecal samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 28, and 56. Genomic DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Microbial composition was analyzed using the MG-RAST pipeline with the RefSeq database. <b>Conclusions:</b> Despite temporary reductions in critical bacterial populations during nursing, the early sheep fecal microbiome demonstrated resilience by repopulating after CCFA antibiotic disruption. While this highlights microbiota stability after short-course antibiotic exposure, the transient disturbance underscores potential risks to early gut health. Importantly, persistent CCFA resistance poses environmental dissemination risks, emphasizing the need for cautious antibiotic use in livestock to mitigate ecological impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/5/434microbiomelambsceftiofurantibiotic resistance
spellingShingle Mohamed Donia
Nasr-Eldin Aref
Mohamed Zeineldin
Ameer Megahed
Benjamin Blair
James Lowe
Brian Aldridge
Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs
Antibiotics
microbiome
lambs
ceftiofur
antibiotic resistance
title Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs
title_full Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs
title_fullStr Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs
title_short Impact of Parenteral Ceftiofur on Developmental Dynamics of Early Life Fecal Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome in Neonatal Lambs
title_sort impact of parenteral ceftiofur on developmental dynamics of early life fecal microbiota and antibiotic resistome in neonatal lambs
topic microbiome
lambs
ceftiofur
antibiotic resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/5/434
work_keys_str_mv AT mohameddonia impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs
AT nasreldinaref impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs
AT mohamedzeineldin impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs
AT ameermegahed impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs
AT benjaminblair impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs
AT jameslowe impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs
AT brianaldridge impactofparenteralceftiofurondevelopmentaldynamicsofearlylifefecalmicrobiotaandantibioticresistomeinneonatallambs