Antimicrobial susceptibility and characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamases in Escherichia coli isolated from bovine mastitic milk in South Korea from 2012 to 2015.

In this study, we aimed to assess trends in antimicrobial resistance and to investigate the characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates from bovine mastitic milk from 2012 to 2015. A total of 374 Escherichia coli isolates were analyzed (154 in 2012, 113 in 2013, 76 in 2014, and 31 in 2015). No consistent trends in antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolates occurred during the 4-yr period. The most frequently observed resistance was tetracycline (23.3%), followed by streptomycin (17.1%), ampicillin (16.6%), neomycin (11.8%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (11.2%). Multidrug resistance was observed in 15.5% of isolates. Among these isolates, 15 (4.0%) carried one or more bla and AmpC ESBL genes from 11 different farms, including bla at 4 farms, bla at 2 farms, bla at 3 farms, and bla at 3 farms. This study is the first report of bla-producing E. coli in dairy milk. Transfer of ESBL was observed in 3 bla-producing isolates, 1 bla-producing isolate, and all 3 bla-producing isolates. Almost all bla and bla genes possessed an insertion sequence, ISECP1, upstream of the bla gene. Identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles were also observed in bla-producing E. coli from the same farm. These results suggested that ESBL might spread by both clonal and horizontal spread in dairy farms in South Korea. Although no significant changes occurred in the antimicrobial resistance of E. coli during the 4-yr study period, the resistance rates and presence of ESBL were high compared with those in other countries. Thus, these findings suggest the importance of control measures for E. coli, particularly ESBL-producing bacteria, on dairy farms to reduce treatment failure and transmission to humans.