Prevalence and characteristics of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in clinically healthy pigs: implications for antibiotic resistance spread in livestock.

Aim: This study aimed to compare and characterize the resistance profile and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) related genes in Escherichia coli isolated from healthy finishing pigs fed with or without antibiotics in their diets.

Methods And Results: A total of 27 ceftiofur-resistant E. coli isolates were obtained from 96 healthy pigs.