Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, virulence gene, and class 1 integrons of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis from pigs, pork and humans in Thai-Laos border provinces.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, and Class 1 integrons of Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) from pigs, pork and humans in Thailand-Laos border provinces. METHODS: Six hundred and forty-eight rectal and carcass swab samples from border provinces of Thailand (n=359) and Lao PDR (n=289) were collected and examined from September 2013 to October 2014. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of Enterococcus species was 483 of 648 (75%), comprising E. faecium (359 of 483, 74.3%) and E. faecalis (124 of 483, 25.7%). The occurrence of E. faecium in pigs, pig carcasses, retail pork, and humans in Thailand was 80.6%, 73.8%, 77.6%, and 67%, respectively. The prevalence of E. faecium was higher in Laos (65.7%) than Thailand (47.1%) (P<0.001). Conversely, E. faecalis was more common in Thailand (24.2%) than Laos (12.8%) (P<0.001). The E. faecium and E. faecalis isolates were resistant to all antimicrobials except vancomycin. High resistance was first observed to tetracycline, erythromycin and streptomycin, followed by gentamicin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Both E. faecium (7%) and E. faecalis (0.8%) carried empty Class 1 integrons: E. faecium carried gel (6.4%) and esp (0.8%), while E. faecalis carried agg (41.9%), cylA (36.3%), gel (60.5%), and esp (42.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a variable distribution of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes among E. faecium and E. faecalis from pigs, pig products and humans in Thai-Laos border provinces. These pathogens may serve as potential reservoirs for the maintenance and widespread dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants from animals to humans via the food chain.

Bacterial content and associated risk factors influencing the quality of bulk tank milk collected from dairy cattle farms in Mandalay Region.

To investigate the bacterial content and risk factors associated with the hygienic quality of raw milk, a cross-sectional study was conducted in four townships of Mandalay Region, Myanmar. From April to October 2017, bulk tank milk samples (n = 233) were collected from 233 dairy cattle farms located in Tada-U, Pyin Oo Lwin, Meiktila, and Patheingyi Townships. From each farm, approximately 100 ml of bulk tank milk was collected and examined for bacterial content. Total bacterial count (TBC) and coliform count (CC) in milk samples were determined using milk agar and violet red bile agar. Of 233 milk samples, 68.2% (159/233) showed TBC higher than 1.0 × 105 cfu/ml, and 78.4% (183/233) showed CC higher than 100 cfu/ml. The mean value of TBC among 233 farms was 2.55 × 107 cfu/ml, ranging from 6.0 × 103 to 3.0 × 109 cfu/ml, whereas the mean value of CC was 1.59 × 105 cfu/ml, ranging from 10 to 8.4 × 106 cfu/ml. TBC tended to increase as CC increased in milk samples. The number of precautionary measures for milking operation, choice of cleaning materials, training experience of the farmers, cleanliness score of milking cows, and CMT scores of milk were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with TBC in bulk tank milk. Similarly, the number of precautionary measures for milking operation, choice of cleaning materials, training experience of the farmers, cleanliness scores of milking cows, CMT scores of milk samples, herd size, and type of milking practice showed significant association (p < 0.05) with CC in bulk tank milk. The effects of these potential risk factors should be minimized, farmers should be trained properly, and technical support should be provided, so that the quality of raw milk produced in Myanmar can be improved.