Frequency of Resistance to β-Lactam Antibiotics and the Presence of β-Lactamase-Producing Genes blaSHV and blaTEM in Escherichia coli Isolates from Bovine Clinical Mastitis in Tabriz City, Iran

Mastitis is known as the most economic important disease in the dairy industry in the world. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the major causes of mastitis, which is treated with antibiotics, especially β-lactams. The emergence and spread of resistance to these antibiotics in livestock and the potential transfer of this resistance to human communities is a serious threat to public health in different countries.

This study aimed to determine the resistance to β-lactams in E. coli isolates from the milk samples of bovine clinical mastitis in Tabriz City, Iran. Also, the presence of the extended-spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-encoding genes (blaTEM-1 and blaSHV-1) was investigated in the isolates.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 240 milk samples were collected from cattle with clinical mastitis in Tabriz. None of the cattle were under antibiotic therapy before sampling. The samples were evaluated according to the standard microbiological methods. The antibiotic susceptibility of E. coli isolates was investigated using the disk diffusion method. Also, the isolates were evaluated for the production of ESBL using the combined disk test. Finally, the presence of blaTEM and blaSHV in β-lactamase producing strains was confirmed using the PCR method.

Out of 240 samples, E. coli was isolated from 50 samples (20.83%), of which 22 isolates (44%) were detected as β-lactamase producers. The results of the PCR test showed that seven isolates (31.81 %) carried the blaTEM and four (18.18 %) the blaSHV.

Considering the abundance of β-lactamase-producing E. coli in this study, there is a possibility of the spread of antibiotic resistance among the livestock population due to improper use of antibiotics and transferring resistance genes to human communities. Therefore, accurate identification, proper treatment of infected animals, and compliance with the withdrawal period of animal products treated with antibiotics are recommended.