Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXIX, Issue 2
Written by Anca GOCAN (SECARĂ), Carmen Dana ȘANDRU, Diana OLAH, Gheorghiță DUCA, Constantin CERBU, Aurel VASIU, Emoke PALL, Cristian VĂLEANU, Marina SPÎNU
Swine are considered one of the most important species of food animals worldwide, the majority of meat for human consumption in numerous countries being represented by pork. Sometimes heavily treated with antibiotics to maintain herd health, swine could be considered a sentinel species for humans in respect to antibiotic resistance.The research compared the dynamics of antibiotic resistance by distance between an intensive farm, where antibiotic use is considerable, and small households, with no antibiotic use, at 5 (A) and 10 (B) kilometers from the farm. Twenty-eight clinically healthy pigs (n = 16, farm, n = 6 A, n = 6 B) were sampled. Standard microbiological techniques, identification of the strains by Vitek 2 system and Kirby Bauer test to assess the antimicrobial resistance were applied. Of the total bacterial species identified, E. coli (72%) dominated while 10% were Gram+ bacilli and 10% Gram - unidentified coco-bacilli. The highest MAR (multiple antibiotic resistance) index was calculated in E. coli (MAR = 0.88, A and B) and also two other strains from the farm (MAR = 0.77). The high MAR indices stand for the presence of antibiotic resistance in untreated animals, urging for a more accurate surveillance of the phenomenon.
[Read full article] [Citation]
