Detection of <i>mcr-1-1</i> Positive Enteropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates Associated with Post-Weaning Diarrhoea in an Organic Piglet-Producing Farm in Austria

• Published in: Microorganisms
• Main Authors: René Renzhammer, Lukas Schwarz, Adriana Cabal Rosel, Werner Ruppitsch, Andreas Fuchs, Erwin Simetzberger, Andrea Ladinig, Igor Loncaric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
• Subjects: organic farm; <i>E. coli</i>; EPEC; colistin resistance; <i>mcr-1</i>; whole genome sequencing
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/2/244

Postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) is a frequent multifactorial disease occurring in swine stocks worldwide. Since pathogenic <i>Escherichia</i> (<i>E</i>.) <i>coli</i> play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PWD and porcine <i>E. coli</i> are often resistant to different antibiotics, colistin is frequently applied to treat piglets with PWD. However, the application of colistin to livestock has been associated with the emergence of colistin resistance. This case report describes the detection of the colistin resistance gene <i>mcr-1-1</i> in two <i>E. coli</i> isolated from piglets with PWD in an Austrian organic piglet-producing farm, which was managed by two farmers working as nurses in a hospital. Both <i>mcr-1</i>-positive <i>E. coli</i> were further analysed by Illumina short-read-sequencing, including assemblies and gene prediction. Both isolates belonged to the same clonal type and were positive for <i>eaeH</i> and <i>espX5,</i> which are both virulence genes associated with enteropathogenic <i>E. coli</i> (EPEC). Due to the detection of <i>mcr-1</i>-positive EPEC and based on the results of the antimicrobial resistance testing, the veterinarian decided to apply gentamicin for treatment instead of colistin, leading to improved clinical signs. In addition, after replacing faba beans with whey, PWD was solely observed in 2/10 weaned batches in the consecutive months.