Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa.

Background:  Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are a major cause of diarrheal diseases in both developed and developing countries. Healthy asymptomatic animals may be reservoirs of zoonotic DEC, which may enter the food chain via the weak points in hygiene practices.

From Farm-to-Fork: from an Intensive Pig Production System in South Africa Shows High Resistance to Critically Important Antibiotics for Human and Animal Use.

Antibiotic resistance profiles of were investigated in an intensive pig production system in the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, using the 'farm-to-fork' approach. Four hundred seventeen (417) samples were collected from pig and pig products at different points (farm, transport, and abattoir). was isolated and enumerated using the Colilert 18/Quanti-Tray 2000 system.