First detection of multidrug-resistant and toxigenic Pasteurella aerogenes in sow vaginal discharge: a novel threat to swine health in Thailand

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 25510 - 10
• Main Authors: Keeratikunakorn, Krittika, Kaeoket, Kampon, Ounjai, Puey, Wannigama, Dhammika Leshan, Chatsuwan, Tanittha, Ngamwongsatit, Natharin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 26.10.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326/1320; 631/326/22; 631/326/41; Aerogenes; Amoxicillin; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Bacterial Toxins - genetics; Ceftriaxone; Colistin; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - genetics; Enrofloxacin; Female; Hogs; Humanities and Social Sciences; mcr genes; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; multidisciplinary; Multidrug resistance; Oxytetracycline; Pasteurella; Pasteurella - drug effects; Pasteurella - genetics; Pasteurella - isolation & purification; Pasteurella aerogenes; Pasteurella Infections - microbiology; Pasteurella Infections - veterinary; pax genes; Reproductive health; Reproductive system; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sow’s vaginal discharge; Swine; Swine Diseases - microbiology; Swine production; Thailand; Toxicity; Toxins; Vagina; Vaginal Discharge - microbiology; Vaginal Discharge - veterinary; Thailand; genes; Sow’s vaginal discharge; pax genes; mcr genes; Pasteurella aerogenes
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76428-4

Pasteurella aerogenes has been implicated in reproductive disorders in sows, yet its prevalence and characteristics in vaginal discharge are not well understood. This study aimed to detect P . aerogenes in sow vaginal discharge samples and investigate its antibiotic resistance profile, toxin genes, and toxicity. P . aerogenes was isolated from 40% (8/20) of samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed universal resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate (4:1), with 87.5% of isolates also resistant to oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, and enrofloxacin. The colistin resistance gene mcr - 2 was detected in 75% of isolates, while class 1 integron ( int1 ) was found in 12.5%. The pax toxin gene cluster was present in 75% of isolates. Toxicity assays using Panagrellus redivivus demonstrated dose-dependent effects of P . aerogenes supernatant containing pax toxins. This study represents the first report of P . aerogenes isolation from sow vaginal discharge in Thailand. The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance, presence of the mcr-2 gene, and toxicity of pax toxin-positive isolates suggest that P . aerogenes may be an underestimated factor in swine reproductive health. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the role of P . aerogenes in sow reproductive disorders and its potential impact on swine production.