Faecal occurrence and emissions of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (laMRSA) and ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli from animal farms in Germany

The occurrence of laMRSA (livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and/or plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase-producing (AmpC) Enterobacteriaceae in healthy livestock herds is known for some time. The spread of these bacteria in the environment is discussed critically. The object of this study was to determine the presence of these microorganisms in faeces of livestock as well as the discussion about a potential faecal emission. Therefore, faeces samples from 37 different MRSA positive livestock holdings were tested for MRSA. Furthermore, faeces samples from 50 farms with an unknown status regarding ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli were screened for those resistant bacteria. LaMRSA was detected in samples of turkey (2/5, 40%) and broiler fattening farms (1/4, 25%) as well as in pig farms with higher detection frequencies in fattening farms (11/15, 73.3%) than in breeding farms (4/12, 33.3%). ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli was found in all investigated eight broiler farms (100%), in nine out of 16 (56.3%) breeding pig as well as in six out of 10 (60%) dairy cattle herds and in seven of 16 (43.8%) fattening pig holdings. This presents the first detection of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli originating from healthy pigs, turkeys and broilers in Germany. In addition, samples of fertilized field surfaces were studied exemplarily for the presence of MRSA (n = 4) as well as ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli (n = 2). Furthermore, slurry samples from four broiler and five pig farms were analysed for the latter. Both MRSA and ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli could be detected on the field surfaces, the last also in slurry samples. Faecal emissions from animal husbandry seem to be one possible route for the spread of these resistant microorganisms in the environment.