Abstract

Objective: The increase and prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in livestock animals are serious public health concerns. This study aimed to identify the presence of the blaTEM gene in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolated from rectal swabs of apparently healthy pigs in Malang District, East Java, Indonesia.
Materials and Methods: A total of 120 rectal swab samples were collected from the pigs. The rectal swabs were screened for the presence of E. coli using standard microbiological identifi¬cation procedures. The Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method identified multidrug-resistant E. coli. Five different classes of antibiotics were used to identify multidrug-resistant isolates, including Ciprofloxacin, Trimethoprim, Tetracycline, Streptomycin, and Aztreonam. Multidrug-resistant E. coli isolates were characterized for the presence of ESBL using double-disk synergy test methods. The presence of blaTEM genes was determined using polymerase chain reaction methods.
Results: The results of this study indicated that 107 (89.2%) out of 120 samples analyzed were positive for E. coli isolates. A total of 32 (29.9%) E. coli isolates were identified to be multidrug-re¬sistant and further subjected to molecular testing. The molecular analysis revealed (5; 15.6%) E. coli isolates to harbor the blaTEM gene.
Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that pigs and products of pork origin must be considered a source of transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli to public health important under the food chain.

Key words: BlaTEM gene; ESBL; Escherichia coli; pigs; public health