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. 2024 Jan 3;79(1):27-35.
doi: 10.1093/jac/dkad307.

Deciphering the pivotal role of people with high-frequency occupational animal exposure in antibiotic resistance transmission between humans and animals

Juan Li  1 , Yuqin Song  2 , Jianping Deng  3 , Zhaoran Wang  2   4 , Nai-Kei Wong  5 , Chao Wang  2 , Gang Zhang  2 , Yang Wang  6 , Shan Lu  1 , Jie Che  1 , Xiaofei Zhao  1 , ZhengDong Zhang  3 , Hong Wang  3 , Ling Zhang  3 , YunFei Zhang  1 , Xuemei Bai  1 , Min Yuan  1 , Xia Chen  1 , Wen Zhang  1 , Yanwen Xiong  1 , Biao Kan  1 , Jie Feng  2
Affiliations

Deciphering the pivotal role of people with high-frequency occupational animal exposure in antibiotic resistance transmission between humans and animals

Juan Li et al. J Antimicrob Chemother. .

Abstract

Background: The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among humans and food-producing animals has been widely reported. However, the transmission routes and associated risk factors remain incompletely understood.

Methods: Here, we used commensal Escherichia coli bacteria strains from faeces of pigs and local citizens [HEG: high exposure group (pig breeders, butchers or restaurant chefs) and LEG: low exposure group (other occupations)] to explore the dynamics of ARB and ARG transmission between animals and humans.

Results: Most ARGs (96%) present in pigs were shared with humans. Carriage rates of the shared ARGs suggest two transmission patterns among pigs, the HEG and LEG: one pattern was highest in pigs, gradually decreasing in the HEG and LEG (e.g. floR and cmlA1); the other pattern was increasing from pigs to the HEG but then decreasing in the LEG (e.g. mcr-1.1). Carriage rates of the HEG were higher than in the LEG in both patterns, implicating the HEG as a crucial medium in transmitting ARB and ARGs between food-producing animals and humans. Moreover, frequent inter/intragroup transmission via strains, plasmids and/or mobile elements was evident. Carriage of mcr-1.1 on human-gut-prevalent plasmids possibly promoted its enrichment in the HEG.

Conclusions: The HEG is a crucial factor in transmitting ARB and ARGs between food-producing animals and humans. Rational measures to contain the risks of occupational exposure are urgently needed to keep dissemination of antibiotic resistance in check and safeguard public health.

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