Isolation and characterization of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli from national horse racetracks and private horse-riding courses in Korea |
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Authors: | Yeon Soo Chung Jae Won Song Dae Ho Kim Sook Shin Young Kyung Park Soo Jin Yang Suk Kyung Lim Kun Taek Park Yong Ho Park |
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Institution: | 1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.;2Department of Animal Science and Technology, College of Biotechnology and Natural Resource, Chung-Ang University 2nd Campus, Anseong 17546, Korea.;3Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Anyang 14086, Korea. |
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Abstract: | Limited information is available regarding horse-associated antimicrobial resistant (AR) Escherichia (E.) coli. This study was designed to evaluate the frequency and characterize the pattern of AR E. coli from healthy horse-associated samples. A total of 143 E. coli (4.6%) were isolated from 3,078 samples collected from three national racetracks and 14 private horse-riding courses in Korea. Thirty of the E. coli isolates (21%) showed antimicrobial resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent, and four of the AR E. coli (13.3%) were defined as multi-drug resistance. Most of the AR E. coli harbored AR genes corresponding to their antimicrobial resistance phenotypes. Four of the AR E. coli carried class 1 integrase gene (intI1), a gene associated with multi-drug resistance. Pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis showed no genetic relatedness among AR E. coli isolated from different facilities; however, cross-transmissions between horses or horses and environments were detected in two facilities. Although cross-transmission of AR E. coli in horses and their environments was generally low, our study suggests a risk of transmission of AR bacteria between horses and humans. Further studies are needed to evaluate the risk of possible transmission of horse-associated AR bacteria to human communities through horse riders and horse-care workers. |
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Keywords: | Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance class 1 integron cross-transmission horse |
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