Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Background and objectivesStudies focussing on measuring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rely on phenotyping or low throughput PCR detection of limited AMR genes (ARGs); high-throughput qPCR (HT-qPCR) may be a scalable approach for measuring AMR. We applied Fluidigm HT-qPCR to measure the impact of flock-level antimicrobial use (AMU) on genotypic AMR in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam.MethodsAMU-related data and pooled faecal samples were collected longitudinally from 20 meat chicken flocks, divided into flocks treated with antimicrobials and untreated controls. Samples were analysed for 94 ARGs using Fluidigm HT-qPCR. Normalized ARG abundance was measured in reference to 16S rRNA. A regression model was constructed to weigh the effect of AMU factors on AMR.ResultsThe frequency of ARGs per sample was significantly higher in antimicrobial treatment group chicken samples (56.4; 95% CI 55.3-57.6) compared with the controls (52.1, 95% CI 50.9-53.4). Similarly, the normalized ARG abundance was significantly greater in treatment flock samples (3.2; 95% CI 2.9-3.4) than in control samples (2.0; 95% CI 1.7-2.3), except for tetracycline ARGs. Overall, ARG frequency negatively correlated with the average ARG abundance (R = -0.27 and P ConclusionThe findings of this study highlight the utility of molecular AMR profiling in areas with heavy AMU for poultry production.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/jacamr/dlaf117

Type

Journal

JAC-antimicrobial resistance

Publication Date

08/2025

Volume

7

Addresses

Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.