Risk factor analysis, antimicrobial resistance and pathotyping ofEscherichia coliassociated with pre- and post-weaning piglet diarrhoea in organised farms, India

Abstract

AbstractA cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2017 in 13 organised pig farms located in eight states of India (Northern, North-Eastern and Southern regions) to identify the risk factors, pathotype and antimicrobial resistance ofEscherichia coliassociated with pre- and post-weaning piglet diarrhoea. The data collected through questionnaire survey were used to identify the risk factors by univariable analysis, in which weaning status, season, altitude, ventilation in the shed, use of heater/cooler for temperature control in the sheds, feed type, water source, and use of disinfectant, were the potential risk factors. In logistic regression model, weaning and source of water were the significant risk factors. The piglet diarrhoea prevalence was almost similar across the regions. Of the 909 faecal samples collected (North – 310, North-East – 194 and South – 405) for isolation ofE. coli, pathotyping and antibiotic screening, 531E. coliwere isolated in MacConkey agar added with cefotaxime, where 345 isolates were extended spectrumβ-lactamase (ESBL) producers and were positive forblaCTX-M-1 (n= 147),blaTEM (n= 151),qnrA (n= 98),qnrB (n= 116),qnrS (n= 53),tetA (n= 46),tetB (n= 48) andsul1 (n= 54) genes. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index revealed that 14 (2.64%) isolates had MAR index of 1. On the virulence screening ofE. coli, 174 isolates harboured alone or combination ofStx1,Stx2,eaeA,hlyA genes. The isolates from diarrhoeic and post-weaning samples harboured higher number of virulence genes than non-diarrhoeic and pre-weaning. Alleviating the risk factors might reduce the piglet diarrhoea cases. The presence of multidrug-resistant and ESBL-producing pathogenicE. coliin piglets appears a public health concern.