Analysis of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from dairy cattle manure in Bogor, Indonesia

The rapid growth of the dairy industry has led to increased antibiotic use in dairy cattle, causing a surge in antibiotic-resistant genes. This, in turn, has expedited bacterial resistance development. The objective of this research was to analyze the presence of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli derived from dairy cattle manure in Bogor, Indonesia. In this study, twenty-five composite samples from different dairy farms in Bogor were collected. E. coli isolation and identification were performed following the Global Tricycle Surveillance extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli set by WHO 2021. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used for detecting beta-lactam resistance genes. Out of the total samples, 15 isolates (60%) exhibited one beta-lactam resistance gene. The prevalence of blaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaCMY-2, and blaOXA genes was found to be 36%, 24%, 16%, and 4%, respectively. For blaSHV, all samples were negative. Furthermore, it was observed that 20% of the isolates harbored two beta-lactam resistance genes. The high occurrence of beta-lactam resistance genes in the manure samples indicated that resistant bacteria and resistance genes have been transmitted from dairy cattle to the environment. This poses an alarming threat to public health, as the dissemination of these resistant bacteria and genes into the wider ecosystem could compromise the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments for human infections. Urgent action is needed to address this issue, including improving manure management practices on dairy farms and implementing stricter regulations on antibiotic use in livestock production. Failure to address this issue poses a significant threat to both animal and human health in the region.