Distributions of pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors in pig farms in China

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 302; p. 118607
• Main Authors: Ji, Bingzhen, Chen, Qian, Song, Yali, Dong, Zhiling, Ding, Jianqin, Wang, Guoliang, Liu, Guiming, Gao, Pengfei, Zhao, Junxing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.09.2025; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotic resistance genes; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - pathogenicity; China; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - genetics; Drug Resistance, Microbial - genetics; Farms; Feces - microbiology; Genes, Bacterial; Human bacterial pathogens; Pig farm environment; Soil Microbiology; Swine; Virulence factor genes; Virulence Factors - genetics; China; Human bacterial pathogens; Pig farm environment; Virulence factor genes; Antibiotic resistance genes
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118607

The abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in pig feces can lead to their dissemination in the pig farm environment, posing a serious risk to human health through potential exposure and transmission. However, the extent of microbial contamination in pig farms, including ARGs, virulence factor genes (VFGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs), is still largely unknown. In this study, metagenomics was employed to identify the composition and characteristics of microorganism communities, ARGs, VFGs, MGEs and HBPs in pig farm environments from seven different regions of China. The results showed that there were significant differences in the composition of microorganisms and Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteobacteriahe Spirochaetes were the dominant phyla in the pig farm environment. The abundance and composition of ARGs, VFGs, MGEs and HBPs varied significantly in pig farm environments in different regions, with the abundance in Fujian being significantly higher than that in other regions. In total, 216 ARGs, 479 VFGs, 143 MGEs and 78 HBPs were identified across all pig feces, soil, and wastewater samples. The most prominent ARGs were those related to tetracycline, aminoglycoside, and MLS resistance. Escherichia coli, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, Corynebacterium xerosis, Aerococcus viridans, and Collinsella aerofaciens were the most commonly found HBPs in the pig farm environment. Procrustes analysis and Mantel test results showed a strong correlation between ARGs and HBPs, VFGs and HBPs, and ARGs and VFGs. ARGs were mainly harbored by E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis in the pig farm environments. The random forest model indicated that the presence of MGEs (intI1, IS91, and tnpA) was significantly correlated with the total abundance of resistance genes, which can be utilized as an important indicator for measuring resistance genes. The study establishes a foundational understanding of the prevalence and diversity of ARGs, VFGs, and HBPs in pig farm environments, aiding in the development of effective management strategies to mitigate ecological and public health risks. •High diversity and abundance of ARGs and VFGs in the pig farm environment.•Escherichia coli is the main host of HBPs and ARGs in pig farms.•IntI1, IS91, and tnpA could be used as indicators to assess the resistome abundance.