Zoonotic fecal pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in county fair animals.
Abstract: Livestock fairs present a unique opportunity for the public to experience close contact with animals, but may also expose people to zoonotic pathogens through contact with animal feces. The goal of this study was to screen cattle, sheep, goat, chicken, rabbit and horse feces from a livestock fair in California for the potentially zoonotic pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp., as well as determining the level of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and Salmonella. Notably, E. coli O157:H7 was reported for the first time in a pig at a county fair in California. Campylobacter jejuni as well as Salmonella enterica serovars Derby and Thompson were also isolated from pigs, cattle, sheep, goats or chickens, whereas horses and rabbits were negative for all target pathogens. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance as well as multi-drug resistance patterns were highest for E. coli and Salmonella spp. cultured from pigs and chickens, were generally widespread but at lower levels for other animal groups, and included resistance to ampicillin and streptomycin, two antimicrobial drugs of importance for human medicine. This study provides data that highlight the importance of practicing good hygiene in livestock fair settings to avoid transmission of zoonotic microbes, particularly pathogens with antimicrobial resistance, to fair visitors and among animal populations.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-12-20 PubMed ID: 23260373DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2012.11.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research focuses on investigating potential disease-causing pathogens and their resistance to antibiotics in animals at a county fair in California, emphasizing the need for good hygiene practices to prevent transmission of these microbes.
Research Objective
- The main objective of the study was to screen animals, specifically cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, and horses, for six potentially zoonotic pathogens – Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia spp. The study also aimed to determine the level of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and Salmonella, two commonly implicated pathogens in zoonotic outbreaks.
Key Findings
- The study reported the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in a pig at a county fair for the first time. Other pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni as well as Salmonella enterica serovars Derby and Thompson were also isolated from pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, or chickens.
- Interestingly, the researchers found that horses and rabbits were not carriers of any of the target pathogens. This could suggest that some animals pose a lower risk of disease transmission in these settings.
- The researchers noted a high prevalence of resistance to antibiotics, specifically ampicillin and streptomycin, in E. coli and Salmonella spp. cultured from pigs and chickens. Lower levels, though widespread, were noted in other animal groups.
- Importantly, the study found patterns of multi-drug resistance in some cases, suggesting that the potential for transmission of such pathogens could lead to infections that are hard to treat.
Implications
- The findings of this study highlight the importance of maintaining good hygiene practices in environments like county fairs where the public comes into close contact with animals.
- The presence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in these animals indicates that there is a risk for transmission of these hard-to-treat microbes to humans, which could result in severe public health consequences.
- This study underlines the need for continuous monitoring and appropriate interventions in livestock management to prevent the propagation and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Cite This Article
APA
Roug A, Byrne BA, Conrad PA, Miller WA.
(2012).
Zoonotic fecal pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in county fair animals.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 36(3), 303-308.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2012.11.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Cattle
- Chickens
- Escherichia coli O157 / isolation & purification
- Feces / microbiology
- Feces / parasitology
- Goats
- Horses
- Humans
- Livestock / microbiology
- Livestock / parasitology
- Rabbits
- Sheep
- Zoonoses / epidemiology
- Zoonoses / microbiology
- Zoonoses / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Ray R, Singh P. Prevalence and Implications of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli in Farm and Wild Ruminants.. Pathogens 2022 Nov 11;11(11).
- Knipper AD, Ghoreishi N, Crease T. Prevalence and concentration of Campylobacter in faeces of dairy cows: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. PLoS One 2022;17(10):e0276018.
- Allel K, Goscé L, Araos R, Toro D, Ferreccio C, Munita JM, Undurraga EA, Panovska-Griffiths J. Transmission of gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacteria following differing exposure to antibiotic-resistance reservoirs in a rural community: a modelling study for bloodstream infections.. Sci Rep 2022 Aug 5;12(1):13488.
- Patterson L, Navarro-Gonzalez N, Jay-Russell MT, Aminabadi P, Pires AFA. Risk factors of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in livestock raised on diversified small-scale farms in California.. Epidemiol Infect 2022 Jun 1;150:e125.
- Depenbrock S, Aly S, Wenz J, Williams D, ElAshmawy W, Clothier K, Fritz H, McArthur G, Heller M, Chigerwe M. In-vitro antibiotic resistance phenotypes of respiratory and enteric bacterial isolates from weaned dairy heifers in California.. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0260292.
- Lauterbach SE, Nelson SW, Martin AM, Spurck MM, Mathys DA, Mollenkopf DF, Nolting JM, Wittum TE, Bowman AS. Adoption of recommended hand hygiene practices to limit zoonotic disease transmission at agricultural fairs.. Prev Vet Med 2020 Sep;182:105116.
- Pires AFA, Patterson L, Kukielka EA, Aminabadi P, Navarro-Gonzalez N, Jay-Russell MT. Prevalence and risk factors associated with Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella enterica in livestock raised on diversified small-scale farms in California.. Epidemiol Infect 2019 Dec 12;147:e321.
- Ndegwa E, Almehmadi H, Kim C, Kaseloo P, Ako AA. Longitudinal Shedding Patterns and Characterization of Antibiotic Resistant E. coli in Pastured Goats using a Cohort Study.. Antibiotics (Basel) 2019 Sep 2;8(3).
- Conrad CC, Stanford K, Narvaez-Bravo C, Neumann NF, Munns K, Tymensen L, Jokinen C, McAllister TA. Zoonotic Fecal Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Canadian Petting Zoos.. Microorganisms 2018 Jul 16;6(3).
- Wyrsch ER, Roy Chowdhury P, Chapman TA, Charles IG, Hammond JM, Djordjevic SP. Genomic Microbial Epidemiology Is Needed to Comprehend the Global Problem of Antibiotic Resistance and to Improve Pathogen Diagnosis.. Front Microbiol 2016;7:843.
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