High level of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in young dairy calves in southern Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in dairy calves in southern Vietnam. Fecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of 84 calves from 41 smallholder dairy farms, when newborn and at 14days of age for isolation of E. coli. Escherichia coli strains were isolated from 144 of the 168 fecal samples tested. Of the 144 E. coli isolates, 40% were found to be susceptible to all 12 antimicrobial drugs tested and 53% of the E. coli isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobials. Calves were colonized with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli already on the day of birth. Resistance to tetracycline was most common, followed by resistance to sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin. Four isolates carried a gene encoding for extended-spectrum cephalosporinases (ESC), and these genes belonged to bla(CTX-M) group 1 (2 isolates), bla(CTX-M) group 9 (1 isolate), and bla(CMY-2) (1 isolate). Thirty-three isolates had a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) phenotype, and 30 of these carried the qnrS gene. These results are of importance for management routines of dairy cattle to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords

Antimicrobial resistance; Extended-spectrum cephalosporinases; Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance

Published in

Tropical Animal Health and Production
2019, volume: 51, number: 6, pages: 1405-1411

SLU Authors

• Phan Thu Hang, Bui

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • An Giang university

• Wredle, Ewa

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Svennersten Sjaunja, Kerstin

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Dicksved, Johan

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

AMR: Bacteria

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Pathobiology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01820-6

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/99917