Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Animals destined for human consumption play a key role in potentially transmitting bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes. However, there is limited knowledge about the carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in native breeds. We aimed to characteri...

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Main Authors: Sandra Quinteira, Rui Dantas, Luís Pinho, Carla Campos, Ana R. Freitas, Nuno V. Brito, Carla Miranda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Antibiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/12/1208
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author Sandra Quinteira
Rui Dantas
Luís Pinho
Carla Campos
Ana R. Freitas
Nuno V. Brito
Carla Miranda
author_facet Sandra Quinteira
Rui Dantas
Luís Pinho
Carla Campos
Ana R. Freitas
Nuno V. Brito
Carla Miranda
author_sort Sandra Quinteira
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Animals destined for human consumption play a key role in potentially transmitting bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes. However, there is limited knowledge about the carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in native breeds. We aimed to characterize the phenotypic profiles and antibiotic resistance genes in <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from bovines, including three native Portuguese bovine breeds. <b>Methods:</b> Forty-nine <i>E. coli</i> isolates were selected from 640 fecal samples pooled by age group (eight adult or eight calf samples) from each farm, representing both dairy cattle raised in intensive systems and meat cattle raised in extensive systems in Northern Portugal. The presumptive <i>E. coli</i> colonies plated onto MacConkey agar were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The antibiotic resistance profiles were screened by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (EUCAST/CLSI guidelines), and the antibiotic resistance genes by PCR. <b>Results:</b> Most isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (69%), tetracycline (57%), gentamicin (55%), and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (53%), with no resistance to imipenem. Resistance to at least one antibiotic was found in 92% of isolates, while 59% exhibited multidrug resistance. Most calf isolates, including those from native breeds, showed a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Among the adults, this was only observed in Holstein-Friesian and Barrosã cattle. None of the Holstein-Friesian isolates were susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> was identified in 39% of isolates, including those from Holstein-Friesian calves and adults, Cachena calves and Minhota adults. The <i>sul</i>2 gene was detected in 69% of isolates, followed by <i>bla</i><sub>CTX-M</sub> (45%), <i>aac</i>(3′)-IV (41%), and <i>aac</i>(6′)-Ib-cr (31%), with a higher prevalence in adults. <b>Conclusions:</b> This pioneering study highlights the concerning presence of multidrug-resistant <i>E. coli</i> in native Portuguese cattle breeds.
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spelling doaj-art-e6e5e136eaa64bb49622b4422bc202132025-08-20T02:55:54ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822024-12-011312120810.3390/antibiotics13121208Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>Sandra Quinteira0Rui Dantas1Luís Pinho2Carla Campos3Ana R. Freitas4Nuno V. Brito5Carla Miranda6CIBIO—Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Associated Laboratory, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Paredes, PortugalDepartment of Veterinary Clinics, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalInstituto Português de Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Paredes, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Paredes, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Paredes, Portugal<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Animals destined for human consumption play a key role in potentially transmitting bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes. However, there is limited knowledge about the carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in native breeds. We aimed to characterize the phenotypic profiles and antibiotic resistance genes in <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from bovines, including three native Portuguese bovine breeds. <b>Methods:</b> Forty-nine <i>E. coli</i> isolates were selected from 640 fecal samples pooled by age group (eight adult or eight calf samples) from each farm, representing both dairy cattle raised in intensive systems and meat cattle raised in extensive systems in Northern Portugal. The presumptive <i>E. coli</i> colonies plated onto MacConkey agar were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The antibiotic resistance profiles were screened by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (EUCAST/CLSI guidelines), and the antibiotic resistance genes by PCR. <b>Results:</b> Most isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (69%), tetracycline (57%), gentamicin (55%), and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (53%), with no resistance to imipenem. Resistance to at least one antibiotic was found in 92% of isolates, while 59% exhibited multidrug resistance. Most calf isolates, including those from native breeds, showed a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Among the adults, this was only observed in Holstein-Friesian and Barrosã cattle. None of the Holstein-Friesian isolates were susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> was identified in 39% of isolates, including those from Holstein-Friesian calves and adults, Cachena calves and Minhota adults. The <i>sul</i>2 gene was detected in 69% of isolates, followed by <i>bla</i><sub>CTX-M</sub> (45%), <i>aac</i>(3′)-IV (41%), and <i>aac</i>(6′)-Ib-cr (31%), with a higher prevalence in adults. <b>Conclusions:</b> This pioneering study highlights the concerning presence of multidrug-resistant <i>E. coli</i> in native Portuguese cattle breeds.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/12/1208antimicrobial resistance<i>Escherichia coli</i>livestockOne Healthnative breeds
spellingShingle Sandra Quinteira
Rui Dantas
Luís Pinho
Carla Campos
Ana R. Freitas
Nuno V. Brito
Carla Miranda
Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
Antibiotics
antimicrobial resistance
<i>Escherichia coli</i>
livestock
One Health
native breeds
title Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_full Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_fullStr Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_full_unstemmed Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_short Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_sort dairy cattle and the iconic autochthonous cattle in northern portugal are reservoirs of multidrug resistant i escherichia coli i
topic antimicrobial resistance
<i>Escherichia coli</i>
livestock
One Health
native breeds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/12/1208
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