title: Characterization of bacterial susceptibility isolates in sixteen dairy farms in Taiwan.
abstract: Bacteria were isolated from dairy cows, dairy farm environments, and dairy workers in 2 geographically different areas of eastern and northern Taiwan. Isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility and the phylogenetics of isolated Escherichia coli O157:H7 were characterized. A total of 1,346 bacteria were identified, including 226 E. coli, 30 Pseudomonas spp. (7 Pseudomonas aeruginosa), 259 other gram-negative bacteria, 271 Enterococcus spp., 314 Staphylococcus spp., 195 Streptococcus spp., and 51 other gram-positive bacteria. Among them, 88% (1,184/1,346) of the isolates were resistant to sulfadimethoxine. The percentages of gram-negative bacteria resistant to oxy-tetracycline and streptomycin were 48% (249/515) and 78% (404/515), respectively. Gram-positive bacteria isolated from eastern Taiwan, the least polluted region of Taiwan, were found to have greater antimicrobial resistance than those isolated from northern Taiwan. Two E. coli O157:H7 from 2 different geographical areas were isolated. Both were vt2-positive but vt1-negative and had phylogenetic similarities of 82 and 67%, respectively, compared with previous isolates. Information on antimicrobial susceptibility revealed from this dairy farm survey may serve as a baseline for future studies and may also highlight the need to formulate better regulation strategies for the safe use of antimicrobials on food-producing farms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bio-Resources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003612:Dairying; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents