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Title: GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PROFILES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM SWINE, POULTRY, BEEF AND DAIRY CATTLE FARMS IN FLORIDA

Author
item PARVEEN, SALINA - FORMER ARS EMPLOYEE
item LUKASIK, JERZY - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item SCOTT, TROY - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item PORTIER, KENNETH - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item SHEPERD, STEPHANIE - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item BRAUN, KENNETH - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Tamplin, Mark
item FARRAH, SAMUEL - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2006
Publication Date: 3/1/2006
Citation: Parveen, S., Lukasik, J., Scott, T.M., Portier, K.M., Sheperd, S., Braun, K., Tamplin, M.L., Farrah, S. 2006. Geographical variation in antibiotic resistance profiles of escherichia coli isolated from swine, poultry, beef and dairy cattle farms in florida. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 100:50-57.

Interpretive Summary: Livestock, such as swine, poultry, beef and dairy cattle, are sources of fecal pollution which can introduce bacterial pathogens into rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries and ground waters. The fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, has been used as an indicator of human enteric pathogens for many years; however, it is well established that it also inhabits the intestines of non-human animals. Consequently, methods are needed to differentiate sources of E. coli pollution to better estimate human health risk. Multiple antibiotic resistance typing (MAR) is a method that has been used to differentiate sources of E. coli; however, its application has not been validated over different geographical areas. In this study, E. coli MAR profiles for swine, poultry, beef and dairy cattle were measured in three geographical regions of Florida. Results showed that MAR profiles may provide good classification of E. coli sources in specific regions, but the application of MAR over broad geographical areas is not recommended unless validation studies have been performed.

Technical Abstract: Escherichia coli multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) profiles have been studied to identify sources of fecal pollution. However, research is needed to understand the geographical limitations in applying MAR. More than 2000 E. coli were isolated from swine, poultry, beef and dairy farms in south (SF), central (CF) and north Florida (NF), and theses isolates were analyzed for MAR using a panel of nine antibiotics. Eighty four percent of the isolates were resistant to one or more antibiotics. Predominant MAR profiles for swine isolates were chlortetracycline-oxytetracycline-tetracycline, chlortetracycline-penicillin G-erythromycin-oxytetracycline-tetracycline, and chlortetracycline. Prevalent MAR profiles for poultry isolates were penicillin G, penicillin G-erythromycin, and chlortetracycline-penicillin G-oxytetracycline-tetracycline. Among beef and dairy isolates higher resistance was observed for penicillin G, penicillin G-erythromycin, ampicillin-chlortetracycline-penicillin G, and penicillin G, and ampicillin, and ampicillin-amoxicilin, respectively. There was significant variation in MAR profiles over the two geographical areas (SF and CF) for beef, and within the CF area for dairy and swine isolates. Discriminant analysis of MAR profiles correctly classified 80% of cattle, 58% of poultry, and 14% of swine isolates. It can be concluded that MAR may be useful for estimating sources of fecal pollution, but its application must be validated for specific geographical areas.