Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Resistance in Turkey Farms: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three European Countries

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Food-producing animals are significant reservoirs for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Limited research exists on AMR prevalence and risk factors specifically within turkey farming operations.
• Understanding AMR transmission pathways from animals to humans is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in European turkey farms.
• To investigate the relationship between antimicrobial usage (AMU) and AMR levels.
• To assess the impact of biosecurity measures on AMR in this production system.

Main Methods:

• Collected faecal samples, antimicrobial usage data, and biosecurity information from 60 turkey farms in Germany, France, and Spain (2014-2016).
• Quantified AMR gene abundance using shotgun metagenomics and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
• Determined phenotypic AMR prevalence in Escherichia coli isolates via minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing.

Main Results:

• Significant positive associations were found between antimicrobial usage (AMU) and both genotypic and phenotypic AMR for specific antimicrobial classes.
• Beta-lactam and colistin resistance (metagenomics) and ampicillin and ciprofloxacin resistance (MIC) correlated with AMU.
• No robust association was observed between AMU and AMR when analyzing specific qPCR targets, nor was biosecurity linked to increased AMR abundance.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial usage is a key driver of AMR in turkey farms, influencing specific resistance genes and phenotypes.
• Multiple complementary methods for AMR detection provide a comprehensive understanding of AMU-AMR associations.
• Further research may be needed to elucidate the role of specific qPCR targets and refine biosecurity strategies.