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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Meat Safety and Quality » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302411
Title: Antibiotic resistance by source: human-cattle-swine

Author
item Arthur, Terrance
item Agga, Getahun
item Schmidt, John

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2014
Publication Date: 3/4/2014
Citation: Arthur, T.M., Agga, G.E., Schmidt, J.W. 2014. Antibiotic resistance by source: human-cattle-swine. [Abstract] Beef Industry Safety Summit. Available: www.bifsco.org/attendees.aspx.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Category: pre-harvest pathogen reduction Published: unpublished to date. Objective: Determine the baseline prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in environments impacted by agricultural and municipal waste. Experimental Treatments: Samples (n=174) were collected from multiple locations (beef cattle feedlot runoff catchment ponds (n=3), swine manure lagoons (n=3), municipal waste water treatment plants (n=3) and low impact environments (n=2)) at two time points (Aug. and Dec.). At each sample site, samples of solids (n=4) and liquids (n=4) were collected. Bacterial culture methods were used to determine the prevalence and levels of antibiotic resistant populations of E. coli, Salmonella, and enterococci. Key Results: 1. The results indicate that there is no difference in the prevalence of cephalosporin-resistance or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistance in E. coli populations associated with waste produced from cattle, swine, or humans. 2. It was determined that there was no difference in the prevalence of cephalosporin -resistance in Salmonella populations associated with waste produced from cattle or humans. How can this information can be applied in the industry? This study has shown that there is no difference in the prevalence or levels of multiple types of resistant bacteria from agricultural and human sources. Current antimicrobial practices in animal agriculture do not result in increased release of resistant bacteria to the surrounding environment as compared to human wastewater treatment facilities.