Streptococcus suis is an important cause of disease in pigs and an emerging source of severe human infection, with increasing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance. This study assessed the occurrence and seroprevalence of S. suis in healthy pigs and characterized the antimicrobial susceptibility, serotypes, virulence associated genes, and genomic features of colonizing isolates. A total of 58 pigs (13 farm pigs and 45 abattoir pigs) were sampled. Among 176 presumptive isolates recovered by culture, 60 were confirmed as S. suis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were subsequently analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disc diffusion method, selected resistance and virulence genes were detected by conventional PCR, and two representative isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and comparative genomic analyses. Seroprevalence was determined using an indirect ELISA detecting IgG antibodies against S. suis serotype 2 antigen. S. suis was confirmed in 60/176 presumptive isolates (34.1%), most frequently from nasal swabs and tonsils, whereas no blood isolates were detected. The seropositivity rate was 65.5%. High resistance rates were observed for ceftriaxone, ampicillin, cefepime, clindamycin, and tetracycline, and multidrug resistance was common. Tetracycline- and macrolide-associated resistance genes were frequently detected. Serotypes 2/1⁄2 predominated, whereas major classical invasive virulence genes were not detected, consistent with predominantly colonizing strains. Whole genome sequencing of two representative isolates confirmed species identity and revealed substantial genomic diversity, including a markedly larger genome in a tonsillar isolate, suggesting acquisition of accessory genetic elements. These findings demonstrate that healthy pigs can harbor genetically diverse and antimicrobial resistant S. suis, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance to support antimicrobial stewardship and reduce zoonotic risk.
This study compared the gut microbiota of Thai Indigenous Pradu Hang Dam (PD) chickens and commercial broiler chickens (CC) raised on separate farms under distinct diets and management systems. Cecal contents from 14 PD birds sampled at 16 weeks of age and 15 CC birds sampled at 45 days of age were profiled using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Alpha-diversity metrics did not differ significantly between groups, whereas beta-diversity analyses showed clear differences in community composition. PD chickens showed broader taxonomic representation and a lower Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio than CC chickens. Several taxa previously associated with short-chain fatty acid production were enriched in PD chickens, although potentially pathogenic taxa were also more abundant in this group. Predicted resistance-associated functional profiles were inferred from the 16S data using PICRUSt2. The two groups showed distinct predicted profiles: aggregate aminoglycoside-associated abundance was slightly higher in CC chickens, whereas several other functional categories were higher in PD chickens; individual aminoglycoside-associated functions varied in direction. These predictions do not demonstrate antimicrobial resistance gene carriage, genomic location, or phenotypic resistance. Overall, the two sampled production settings harbored compositionally distinct gut microbiota and predicted resistance-associated profiles. As breed, age, diet, farm, and management were confounded, multi-farm studies incorporating antimicrobial-use histories and direct metagenomic and phenotypic validation are needed to identify the drivers and functional consequences of these differences.
Bacterial respiratory disease is one of the major concerns in the modern pig industry. To address the limitations of culture-based methods, 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to characterize the pig lung microbiome to gain a better understanding of microbial physiology and their population genetics. A batch of 510 slaughtered pigs from a farm located in Lampang province, Thailand, was selected. Individual pig weight was recorded. A total of 24 lungs (10 normal and 14 pneumonic lungs) were sampled for gross lesion examination and lung microbial communities were investigated. Poor growth performance and weight uniformity were denoted in this batch. Several pathogenic bacteria were detected in both normal and pneumonic lungs. Microbial diversity was decreased in the pneumonic group. PCoA and NMDS analysis showed a clear separation between the groups. Stenotrophomonas spp. (42.12%) was the dominant genus identified in normal lungs, while Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (71.97%) was the most abundant in pneumonic lungs, correlating with the commonly observed consolidation lesions. The slaughterhouse serves as a key checkpoint for gathering comprehensive information on pig respiratory health, and lung is representative of the lower respiratory tract for microbiomics. Monitoring of lung lesions should be implemented routinely to gain a better understanding of regional pig respiratory health.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent among older cats. The transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) pathway is associated with renal fibrosis. TGF-β1 signaling through the non-canonical/smad-independent pathway activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, which is linked to fibrosis and apoptosis. The MAPK pathway regulates the Bcl-2 protein family, which is known for its anti-apoptosis properties. This study aimed to quantify the mRNA expression of the TGFβ, MAPK, and Bcl2 genes and the protein expression of TGF-β1 and MAPK in feline kidney cells and tissue. A gene expression analysis was conducted using qPCR to calculate the relative gene expression, while the protein expression was assessed through Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry staining of TGF-β1 and MAPK was performed on feline kidney tissue. The results revealed the significant upregulation of TGFβ (p = 0.001) and considerable downregulation of Bcl2 (p = 0.010) in doxorubicin-treated feline kidney cells. The immunostaining levels of TGF-β1 and MAPK were higher in the kidney tissue of cats with CKD than in non-CKD cats. However, there was no difference in TGFβ, MAPK, or Bcl2 gene expression in CKD vs. non-CKD cats. The findings suggest that TGF-β1 and Bcl-2 are associated with renal fibrosis and apoptosis in feline kidney cells. A deeper understanding of the TGF-β1 pathway could enable veterinarians to monitor disease progression and mitigate complications in feline CKD.
Introduction. The northern region of Thailand serves as a crucial area for swine production, contributing to the Thai community food supply. Previous studies have highlighted the presence of foodborne bacterial pathogens originating from swine farms in this region, posing a threat to both human and animal health.Gap statement. Multiple swine bacterial pathogens have been studied at a species level, but the distribution and co-occurrence of bacterial pathogens in agricultural swine has not been well established.Aim. Our study employed the intestinal scraping technique to directly examine the bacterial micro-organisms interacting with the swine host.Methodology. We used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to analyse the bacterial pathogens inhabiting the caecal microbiome of swine from five commercial farms in northern Thailand.Results. A variety of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria were identified, including Escherichia coli, Clostridium botulinum, Staphylococcus aureus and the Corynebacterium genus. From a One Health perspective, these species are important foodborne and opportunistic pathogens in both humans and agricultural animals, making swine a critical pathogen reservoir that can cause illness in humans, especially farm workers. Additionally, the swine caecal microbiome contains commensal bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium, which are associated with normal physiology and feed utilization in healthy swine. Antimicrobial resistance genes were also detected in all samples, specifically conferring resistance to tetracycline and aminoglycosides, which have historically been used extensively in swine farming.Conclusion. The findings further support the need for improved sanitation standards in swine farms, and additional monitoring of agricultural animals and farm workers to reduce contamination and improved produce safety for human consumption.
Background and Aim: Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT), a unique transmissible cancer in dogs, affects the external genitalia and potentially spreads to other parts of the body. While somatic mutations in oncogenic and tumor-suppressing genes are linked to CTVT development, the impact of DNA methylation, which affects gene expression, remains unclear. This study explored whether DNA methylation in the promoter regions of the MYC oncogene and CDKN2B tumor suppressor genes in CTVTs is associated with their expression, both at the gene and protein levels. Materials and Methods: To investigate promoter DNA methylation of MYC and CDKN2B in CTVTs, we analyzed frozen tissue samples from genital CTVT (GTVTs) and extragenital CTVT (ETVTs). Genomic DNA was extracted, bisulfite-treated, and analyzed using bisulfite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. The messenger RNA and protein of MYC and CDKN2B were also extracted and assessed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Matching formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks were used for immunohistochemical staining to visualize protein distribution in GTVT and ETVT tissues. Results: Although both GTVT and ETVT samples showed MYC promoter methylation, the extent of methylation differed significantly. GTVTs displayed a much higher degree of methylation, potentially explaining the more pronounced downregulation of MYC gene expression and reduction in c-MYC protein levels observed in GTVTs compared with ETVTs. Our data revealed a prevalent hypermethylation pattern in the CDKN2B promoter across both sample types. However, DNA methylation, which was expected to have a suppressive effect, did not correlate with gene/protein expression. GTVTs displayed high protein levels despite significantly reduced CDKN2B expression. Conversely, ETVTs maintained regular CDKN2B expression but exhibited reduced protein production, suggesting a complex interplay between methylation and expression in these tumors. Conclusion: MYC demonstrated a clear association between its promoter methylation status, gene expression, and protein levels; however, CDKN2B lacked this correlation, implying the involvement of methylation-independent regulatory mechanisms and highlighting the need for further investigation.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly common in older cats. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) pathway is associated with renal fibrosis. This study aimed to quantify the mRNA expression of TGFβ, MAPK, and Bcl2 genes and the protein expression of TGF-β and MAPK in feline kidney cells and tissues. Gene expression analysis was conducted using relative gene expression, while protein expression was assessed through western blot analysis. The immunohistochemistry staining of TGF-β and MAPK was performed on feline kidney tissues. The result reveals the significant upregulation of TGFβ (P = 0.001) and considerable downregulation of Bcl2 (P = 0.010) in doxorubicin-treated feline kidney cells. Protein expression level of TGF-β and MAPK also tended to increase in doxorubicin-induced feline kidney cells. The immunostaining levels of TGF-β and MAPK were higher in the kidney tissues of cats with CKD compared to the no lesions group. A deeper understanding of the TGF-β pathway could enable veterinarians to monitor disease progression and mitigate complications in feline CKD.
Introduction. Salmonella enterica is a significant enteric pathogen affecting human and livestock health. Pork production is a common source of Salmonella contamination, with emerging multidrug resistance (MDR) posing a global health threat.Gap statement. Salmonella contamination and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles in the pig production chain are underreported.Aim. To investigate the prevalence of S. enterica in the pig production chain and characterise their AMR profiles.Methodology. We collected 485 samples from pig farms, a standard pig abattoir and retail markets in Patthalung and Songkhla provinces in southern Thailand. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on these samples, and AMR profiles were determined.Results. S. enterica was detected in 68.67% of farm samples, 45.95% of abattoir samples and 50.67% of retail market samples. Analysis of 264 isolates, representing 18 serotypes, identified S. enterica serotype Rissen as the most prevalent. The predominant resistance phenotypes included ampicillin (AMP, 91.29%), tetracycline (TET, 88.26%) and streptomycin (STR, 84.47%). Over 80% of isolates showed resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes, indicating MDR. The AMP-STR-TET resistance pattern was found in nearly 70% of all MDR isolates across the production chain.Conclusions. The high prevalence of MDR is consistent with extensive antimicrobial use in the livestock sector. The presence of extensively resistant S. enterica highlights the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship. Strengthening preventive strategies and control measures is crucial to mitigate the risk of MDR Salmonella spreading from farm to fork.
Introduction The northern region of Thailand serves as a crucial area for swine production, contributing to the global food supply. Previous studies have highlighted the presence of foodborne pathogens originating from swine farms in this region, posing a threat to both human and animal health. Gap statement Multiple swine pathogens have been studied at a species level, but the distribution and co-occurrence of pathogens in agricultural swine has not been well established. Aim Our study employed the intestinal scraping technique to directly examine the microorganisms interacting with the swine host. Methodology We used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to analyse the caecal microbiomes of swine from five commercial farms in northern Thailand. Results Swine caecal microbiomes contained commensal bacteria such as Bifidobacterium , Lactobacillus , and Faecalibacterium , which are associated with healthy physiology and feed utilisation. We also identified multiple pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria present in all samples, including Escherichia coli , Clostridium botulinum , Staphylococcus aureus , and the Corynebacterium genus. From a One Health perspective, these species are important foodborne and opportunistic pathogens in both humans and agricultural animals. Antimicrobial resistance genes were also detected in all samples, specifically conferring resistance to tetracycline and aminoglycosides which have historically been used extensively in swine farming. Conclusion The findings further support the need for improved sanitation standards in swine farms, and additional monitoring of agricultural animals and farm workers to reduce contamination and improved produce safety for human consumption.
Salmonella is an important enteric pathogen that poses a threat to human and livestock animal health, with emerging multidrug resistance (MDR) a major public health issue globally. We investigated the prevalence of Salmonella in healthy and diseased pigs from Thai pig farms and determined their phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles. A total of 150 fecal samples were collected from pigs housed in pens from four separate pig farms in southern Thailand and tested for the presence of Salmonella. Confirmed Salmonella isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 11 antimicrobials, and PCR used to detect known antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Salmonella isolates were cultured from 69% (103/150) of all fecal samples, with higher prevalence in disease pigs (12/15; 80%), compared with healthy pigs (91/135; 67%). Serotype Rissen was the most frequently identified serotype among the Salmonella isolates. Resistance to ampicillin (AMP) (97%), sulfonamide-trimethoprim (SXT) (97%), and tetracycline (TET) (94%) were the most common phenotypes observed. The most common ARGs identified were blaTEM gene (99.%), tetA (87%), sul1 (77%), and dfrA1 (74%), and more than 95% of the Salmonella isolates tested were MDR - based on resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes. The most common antimicrobial resistance pattern exhibited was AMP-TET-SXT (76%), and resistance to colistin (via the mcr-1 gene) was observed in both healthy and diseased pigs. The clonal groups of PFGE analysis in serotype Typhimurium revealed the genetic relationship among Salmonella isolated from healthy and diseased pigs from different pig farms.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a frequent condition in elderly cats. Bcl-2 is linked to kidney disease through the processes of apoptosis and fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to examine Bcl-2 levels in CKD and clinically healthy age-matched cats in order to evaluate the relationship between Bcl-2 levels, signalment, and blood parameters in cats with CKD. The circulating levels of Bcl-2 were determined using an immunoassay in twenty-four CKD cats and eleven clinically healthy age-matched cats by the utilization of the general linear model (GLM), Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), ROC curves, the Cox hazard model, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. These were all conducted in order to explore Bcl-2 levels and their connection with other variables. The Bcl-2 immunohistochemical intensity was graded in each glomerulus and tubulointerstitium. McNemar's test was performed in order to compare the expression of Bcl-2 in the two renal tissue sites. The circulating Bcl-2 of CKD cats was significantly lower than those of clinically healthy age-matched cats (P = 0.034). The presence of circulating Bcl-2 (P < 0.01) and the severity of CKD (P = 0.02) were both linked with the survival time of cats with CKD. The area under the curve (AUC) of Bcl-2 for detection of CKD was 0.723. In cats, decreased circulating Bcl-2 was associated with increased blood BUN, creatinine levels, and CKD severity. Bcl-2 protein expression was reduced in the renal tissues of CKD cats as the disease progressed, resulting in a decrease in their survival time. This study demonstrated that Bcl-2 may be effective in diagnosing feline CKD.
Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is still one of the most infectious foodborne pathogens causing problematic health issues worldwide in both human and veterinary medicine. Poultry meat was one of the important sources of NTS spreading and tended to be highly resistant to antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, serotypes, and antimicrobial-resistant patterns of Salmonella circulating in broiler farms and poultry slaughterhouses in an intensive farming area in the upper northern part of Thailand from August to October 2019. Fifty samples of boot swabs were collected from 50 broiler farms, 50 cecal samples, and 250 neck skin samples from slaughterhouses. Salmonella was identified by culture method and serum-agglutination and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was tested using the automated VITEK-2 compact system. This study's total prevalence of Salmonella was 53.71% (n=188/350). We found that 53% (159/300) of cecal and neck skins samples were collected from slaughterhouses and 58% (29/50) of boot swabs collected from broiler farms were positive for NTS. Twenty-four serotypes of NTS were identified, the most encountered was S. Kentucky. The antimicrobial-resistant patterns showed that all the strains were non-susceptible to amikacin, cefalexin, cephalothin, and gentamicin and were susceptible to imipenem, neomycin, and nitrofurantoin. The NTS prevalence in samples from broiler farms was slightly higher than in poultry slaughterhouses indicating that there was contamination in the farming and slaughtering process. Therefore, both hygienic measurements in poultry production and antimicrobial usage in the poultry industry should be considered.
Salmonella is a frequent zoonotic foodborne pathogen, with swine and pork meats the most common source of human infection. In Chiang Mai and Lamphun Province in northern Thailand, there has been a high prevalence of salmonellosis for over a decade. Infection is usually with several dominant S. enterica serotypes, including serotypes Rissen and Monophasic Typhimurium. However, several less common serotypes also contribute to disease. Whole genome sequencing of 43 of these less common S. enterica serotypes isolated from the pork production chain through 2011-2014 were used to evaluate their genetic diversity and virulence potential. Salmonella contamination at local retail markets represented cross-contamination from multiple sources, including decontaminated foodstuff. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of host cell adhesion, invasion and intracellular survival for the development of clinical salmonellosis. We screened our dataset for known virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance genes, identifying at least 10 antimicrobial resistance genes in all isolates. These results indicate that these less common S. enterica serotypes also pose a significant public health risk. Our findings support the need for appropriate surveillance of food products going to market to reduce public exposure to highly pathogenic, multi-drug resistant Salmonella . Surveillance throughout the pork production chain would motivate stakeholders to reinforce sanitation standards and help reduce the risk of salmonellosis in humans.
The advent of RNA sequencing technology provides insight into the dynamic nature of tremendous transcripts within Crandell-Reese feline kidney (CRFK) cells in response to canine parvovirus (CPV-2c) infection. A total of 1,603 genes displayed differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 789 up-regulated genes and 814 down regulated genes in the infected cells. Gene expression profiles have shown a subtle pattern of defense mechanism and immune response to CPV through significant DEGs when extensively examined via Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis. Prospective GO analysis was performed and identified several enriched GO biological process terms with significant participating roles in the immune system process and defense response to virus pathway. A Gene network was constructed using the 22 most significantly enriched genes of particular interests in defense response to virus pathways to illustrate the key pathways. Eleven genes (C1QBP, CD40, HYAL2, IFNB1, IFNG, IL12B, IL6, IRF3, LSM14A, MAVS, NLRC5) were identified, which are directly related to the defense response to the virus. Results of transcriptome profiling permit us to understand the heterogeneity of DEGs during in vitro experimental study of CPV infection, reflecting a unique transcriptome signature for the CPV virus. Our findings also demonstrate a distinct scenario of enhanced CPV responses in CRFK cells for viral clearance that involved multistep and perplexity of biological processes. Collectively, our data have given a fundamental role in anti-viral immunity as our highlights of this study, thus providing outlooks on future research priorities to be important in studying CPV.
Streptococcus suis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in South-East Asia, with frequent zoonotic transfer to humans associated with close contact with pigs. A small number of invasive lineages are responsible for endemic infection in the swine industry, causing considerable global economic losses. A lack of surveillance and a rising trend in clinical treatment failure has raised concerns of growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among invasive S. suis . Gene flow between healthy and disease isolates is poorly understood and, in this study, we sample and sequence a collection of isolates predominantly from healthy pigs in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. Pangenome characterization identified extensive genetic diversity and frequent AMR carriage in isolates from healthy pigs. Multiple AMR genes were identified, conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, lincosamides, tetracycline and macrolides. All isolates were non-susceptible to three or more different antimicrobial classes, and 75 % of non-serotype 2 isolates were non-susceptible to six or more classes (compared to 37.5 % of serotype 2 isolates). AMR genes were found on integrative and conjugative elements previously observed in other species, suggesting a mobile gene pool that can be accessed by invasive disease isolates. This article contains data hosted by Microreact .
Salmonella is a prevalent zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Swine and pork are implicated as important sources of salmonellosis in humans. In Chiang Mai and Lamphun Provinces in northern Thailand, there has been a high prevalence of Salmonella persistence for over a decade. Infection is usually with dominant S. enterica serotypes, including serotypes Rissen and 1,4,[5],12:i:-. However, other serotypes also contribute to disease but are less well characterized. The whole genome sequencing data of 43 S. enterica serotypes isolated from pork production chain through 2011–2014, were used to evaluate genetic diversity and ascertain the possible source of Salmonella contamination based on Core Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) approach. The Salmonella serotypes recovered from farms and slaughterhouses were re-circulating by swine environmental contamination. Conversely, the Salmonella contamination in the retail market represents cross-contamination from multiple sources, including contaminated foodstuffs. Salmonella contamination in the pork production chain has the competency for host cell adhesion, host cell invasion, and intracellular survival, which is enough for the pathogenicity of salmonellosis. In addition, all of these isolates were multi-drug resistant Salmonella, which contained at least 10 antimicrobial resistance genes. This result indicated that these S. enterica serotypes also pose a significant public health risk. Our findings support the need for appropriate surveillance of food-animal products going to market to reduce public exposure to highly pathogenic, multi-drug resistant Salmonella. Acquiring information would motivate all stakeholders to reinforce sanitation standards throughout the pork production chain in order to eradicate Salmonella contamination and reduce the risk of salmonellosis in humans.
Artificial Insemination (AI) programs using qualified semen are designed to revolutionize the poultry farming sector by targeting genetic improvement along with appropriate health strategies. Hence, a prolonged preservation method of quality sperm conserves is important for successful AI outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of different type of containers; straw, cryovial tubes and pellet on the quality of the frozen-thawed Thai native chicken (Pradu-hangdum) semen. High-quality pooled semen was collected and divided into 4 groups with 12 replicates: semen preserved with BHSV extender in 1) 0.25 mL straw, 2) 0.5 mL straw, 3) 2 mL cryovial tube, and 4) semen pellet in 2 mL cryovial tube. All containers were stored in a liquid nitrogen tank for 1 week and the frozen-thawed sperm were subsequently analyzed. The results indicated that the mean of all motion parameters including total motility, progressive motility, progressive fast motility and progressive slow motility, and some kinetic parameters such as DCL, DSL, ALH, BCF, and HAC of the frozen-thawed sperm preserved in cryovial tube had significantly higher values compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, semen freezing process in cryovial tubes had the least effect on decreasing the qualities of frozen-thawed sperm than other methods. Furthermore, fertility rates related to chicken semen preservation should be further evaluated to provide valuable knowledge to farmers.
Salmonella is one of the major foodborne pathogens, often as the result of pork consumption. Currently, with the situation of antimicrobial resistance, organic farming has been suggested as an alternative for healthier options. However, there is little evidence to support this. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of Salmonella circulating in local organic pig farms in northern Thailand and typed isolated clones to better understand the population structure and transmission dynamics of the underlying Salmonella contamination. In total, 112 samples from 11 organic pig farms were processed from October to December 2018. Salmonella was detected in 9 targeted farms. One-fourth (28/112) of all samples yield Salmonella. The positives proportion of fecal, feeder swabs, and boot swabs were found to be 32.7% (17/53), 17.7% (6/34), and 20.0% (5/25), respectively. Of the 28 positive strains, Seven Salmonella serotypes were identified, with S. Rissen being the most common (15/28; 53.6%). 89.3% (25/28), 78.6% (22/28) and 71.4% (20/28) of isolated Salmonella resisted against tetracycline, ampicillin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, respectively. From multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis, the phylogenetic tree hinted that cross contamination within herds, point mutation of the housekeeping genes at period persisted in a herd, and sharing routes of supply chain between farms. A minimum spanning tree (MST) revealed that Salmonella contamination in organic pig farming is possibly linked with conventional farming. Based on the own results, strictly highly organic practices provide a safe alternative enhancing domestic consumer trust and improve public health safety.
Streptococcus suis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in SE Asia, with frequent zoonotic transfer to humans associated with close contact with pigs. A small number of invasive lineages are responsible for endemic infection in the swine industry causing considerable global economic losses. A lack of surveillance and a rising trend in clinical treatment failure has raised concerns of growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among invasive S. suis . The source-sink dynamics between healthy and disease isolates is poorly understood and, in this study, we sample and sequence a collection of isolates predominantly from healthy pigs in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. Pangenome comparisons with a selection of invasive serotype 2 isolates identified increased genetic diversity and more frequent AMR carriage in isolates from healthy pigs. Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes were identified conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, lincosamides, tetracycline and macrolides. All isolates were non-susceptinle to three or more different antimicrobial classes, and 75% of non-serotype 2 isolates were non-susceptible to 6 or more classes (compared to 37.5% of serotype 2 isolates). Antimicrobial resistance genes were found on integrative and conjugative elements (ICE) previously observed in other species, suggesting mobile gene pool which can be accessed by invasive disease isolates. Significance statement The zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis causes respiratory disease in pigs and is among the most common causative agents of human clinical bacterial meningitis in SE Asia. We collected isolates from farmed healthy pigs in Northern Thailand, representing a source population from which invasive isolates have recently emerged – linked to the pork production industry. Pangenome characterisation of the isolates revealed a reservoir of genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance suggesting that One Health approaches may be beneficial in tackling the increase in antimicrobial resistance. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. * AMC : Amoxycillin-Clavulanic acid AMP : Ampicillin AMR : Antimicrobial Resistance AMX : Amoxycillin ARGs : Antimicrobial Resistance Genes CARD : Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database CHL : Chloramphenical CLI : Clindamycin CTF : Ceftiofur DOX : Doxycycline ENR : Enrofloxacin ERY : Erythromycin FLO : Florfenicol GEN : Gentamycin ICE : Integrative and Conjugative Elements KAN : Kanamycin LIN : Lincomycin LZD : Linezolid MDR : Multiple Drug Resistance MLS : Macrolide-Lincosamide-Streptogramin B NCBI : National Center for Biotechnology Information OTC : Oxytetracyclin PEN : Penicillin G SXT : Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim TET : Tetracycline VFDB : Virulence Factor Database
Salmonella spp. is an important foodborne pathogen associated with consumption of contaminated food, especially food of livestock origin. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella has been reported globally and increasing AMR in food production is a major public health issue worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe the genetic relatedness among Salmonella enterica isolates, which displayed identical DNA fingerprint profiles. Ten S. enterica isolates were selected from meat and human cases with an identical rep-PCR profile of serovars Rissen (n = 4), Weltevreden (n = 4), and Stanley (n = 2). We used long-read whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the MinION sequencing platform to type isolates and investigate in silico the presence of specific AMR genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was tested by disk diffusion and gradient diffusion method to corroborate the AMR phenotype. Multidrug resistance and resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent were observed in eight and nine isolates, respectively. Resistance to colistin with an accompanying mcr-1 gene was observed among the Salmonella isolates. The analysis of core genome and whole genome MLST revealed that the Salmonella from meat and human salmonellosis were genetically related. Hence, it could be concluded that meat is one of the important sources for Salmonella infection in human.