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Table 2 Selected examples of cattle-related AMR human health threats

From: Antimicrobial usage and resistance in beef production

Source

Bacterial species

Human outbreak

AMR profile

Mechanism

Notes

Study

Calves

S. enterica serotype Typhimurium

Veterinarian’s child

Ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, sulfisoxazole, kanamycin, streptomycin, cephalothin, ceftriaxone and ceftiofur, aztreonam, cefoxitin, gentamicin, and tobramycin

Ceftriaxone resistance conferred by bla CMY-2 on a conjugable plasmid

An isolated, domestically acquired case requiring hospitalization. Failure of ampicillin and sulbactam therapy, but recovery with amoxicillin/clavulanate. Direct molecular evidence linking MDR isolates from herds treated by the patient’s father

[216]

Cattle, Sheep

MRSA ST130

Two farmers

Cefoxitin and penicillin

Resistance conferred by mecC (mecA homologue), SCCmec type XI [220]

Direct transfer of mecC-MRSA from cattle and sheep to humans resulting in wound infections

[211]

Veal calves

MRSA ST398

Asymptomatic carriage by farm employees

Methicillin and others

Resistance conferred by mecA, SCCmec not stated

Asymptomatic human MRSA carriage rates associated with prevalence in calves and frequency of animal contact. MRSA carriage in calves associated with antimicrobial use

[217]

Cattle, Swine

E. coli, Salmonella

Potential, sporadic transmission to humans

Ceftriaxone, with high-levels of co-resistance to chloramphenicols, tetracycline, sulfisoxazole, streptomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, and ciprofloxacin

3rd generation cephalosporin resistance conferred by plasmid-born bla CMY-2

Potential transfer of bla CMY-2 plasmids between E. coli and Salmonella. Close relationship between bla CMY-2 plasmids in E. coli found in bovines and humans

[210]

Ground beef, possibly from dairy cows

S. enterica serotype Typhimurium DT104

Large clustered human outbreak

Ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfemethoxazole, and tetracycline (R-type ACSSuT)

MDR genes potentially encoded on Salmonella genomic island 1

Multi-state outbreak, potentially affecting >2200 people. Severe illness, with a high proportion of patients receiving intravenous rehydration and requiring hospitalization

[213]