Withdraw of prophylactic antimicrobials does not change the pigs’ resistome

Abstract

The use of antimicrobials in the animal industry has increased the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant commensal bacteria in food products derived from animals, which could be associated with antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens. To reduce the influx of antibiotic resistant bacteria (and genes) to the human microbiota, restrictions on antimicrobials (in food animals) have been implemented in different countries. We investigated the impact of antimicrobial restriction in the frequency of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in pigs. No differences in antimicrobial resistance or antimicrobial resistance genes (richness or abundance) was found when we compared animals fed with and without antibiotics. Fitness costs of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria (in the field) seems to be overestimated.