Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Resistance in Turkey Farms: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three European Countries
Investigation article published in Antibiotics
July 6th, 2021
Food-producing animals are an important reservoir and potential source of transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to humans. However, research on AMR in turkey farms is limited. This study aimed to identify risk factors for AMR in turkey farms in three European countries (Germany, France, and Spain). Between 2014 and 2016, faecal samples, antimicrobial usage (AMU), and biosecurity information were collected from 60 farms. The level of AMR in faecal samples was quantified in three ways: By measuring the abundance of AMR genes through (i) shotgun metagenomics sequencing (n = 60), (ii) quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting ermB, tetW, sul2, and aph3`-III; (n = 304), and (iii) by identifying the phenotypic prevalence of AMR in Escherichia coli isolates by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) (n = 600). The association between AMU or biosecurity and AMR was explored. Significant positive associations were detected between AMU and both genotypic and phenotypic AMR for specific antimicrobial classes. Beta-lactam and colistin resistance (metagenomics sequencing); ampicillin and ciprofloxacin resistance (MIC) were associated with AMU. However, no robust AMU-AMR association was detected by analyzing qPCR targets. In addition, no evidence was found that lower biosecurity increases AMR abundance. Using multiple complementary AMR detection methods added insights into AMU-AMR associations at turkey farms
Horie M., Yang D., Joosten P., Munk P., Wadepohl K., Chauvin C., Moyano G., Skarzynska M., Dewulf J., Aarestrup F., Blaha T., Sanders P., Gonzalez-Zorn B., Wasyl D., Wagenaar J., Heederik D., Mevius D., Schmitt H., Smit LAM., Van Gompel L. and EFFORT Group.
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences. Utrecht University (UU). | |
Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. University of Ghent (UGENT). | |
Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology. National Food Institute (DTU Food). Technical University of Denmark (DTU). | |
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo). | |
Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l´alimentation, de l´environnement et du travail (ANSES). | |
French Agency for Food. Environmental and Occupational Safety. National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products. | |
Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). | |
Servicio de Zoonosis de Transmisión Alimentaria y Resistencia a Antimicrobianos (ZTA). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). | |
National Veterinary Research Institute (PIWET). | |
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Utrecht University (UU). | |
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research. | |
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Government of the Netherlands. | |