A new multidrug-resistant enterotoxigenicEscherichia colipulsed-field gel electrophoresis cluster associated with enrofloxacin non-susceptibility in diseased pigs

Aims To describe the temporal trends inEscherichia colipathotypes and antimicrobial resistance detected in isolates from diseased-pig cases submitted to the EcL from 2008 to 2016, in Quebec, Canada, and to investigate the presence of spatiotemporal and phylogenetic clusters. Methods and Results Detection of 12 genes coding for virulence factors in pathogenicE. coliin pigs by PCR and antimicrobial resistance standard disc diffusion assay were performed. Demographic and clinical data were entered in the Animal Pathogenic and ZoonoticE. coli(APZEC) database. ETEC:F4 was the most prevalent pathovirotype among the 3773 cases submitted. The LT:STb:F4 virotype was predominant until 2014, then was overtaken by the LT:STb:STa:F4 virotype. More than 90% of the ETEC:F4 isolates were multidrug resistant. A spatiotemporal cluster of LT:STb:STa:F4 isolates non-susceptible to enrofloxacin was detected between 4/2015 and 9/2016. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of 137 ETEC:F4 isolates revealed the presence of a cluster composed mainly of LT:STb:STa:F4 isolates non-susceptible to enrofloxacin. Conclusions The APZEC database was useful to highlight temporal trends inE. colipathotypes. A high-risk ETEC:F4 clone might disseminate in the pig population in Quebec since 2015. Significance and Impact of the Study Surveillance is crucial to identify new clones and develop control strategies.

Automated summary

The study described temporal trends in Escherichia coli pathotypes and antimicrobial resistance in pig cases in Quebec from 2008 to 2016. A high-risk ETEC:F4 clone has been spreading in the pig population in Quebec since 2015, highlighting the importance of surveillance and control strategies for identifying new clones.