As part of the first phase of the project, microbiological tests were carried out for 20 pig farms in Ukraine to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics at the Research Centre for Biosafety and Environmental Control of Agricultural Resources of the State Agrarian and Food Academy of Ukraine (Biosafety-Centre). For this purpose, nutrient media, test systems, antibiotic discs, and gas mixtures were used to create microaerophilic conditions. Microbial isolates were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI-TOF).
As a result, it was found that opportunistic strains of Escherichia coli found in suckling piglets had widespread resistance to various groups of antibiotics. In particular, it was found that haemolytic E. coli species were more resistant to amoxicillin, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, oxytetracycline, chortetracycline and ciprofloxacin. At the same time, non-haemolytic E. coli strains were more resistant to doxycycline, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, spectinomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole, florfenicol and ceftiofur.
Given the widespread prevalence of multidrug-resistant enterobacteria in Ukrainian pig farms, the second phase of the project also includes microbiological monitoring of bacterial pathogens in pigs to determine antibiotic susceptibility, but using an innovative method of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Currently, 25 enterprises, located mainly in the regions affected by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, are participating in this study.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders is a non-profit, voluntary organization founded by domestic pork producers. The main goals of the association are to represent and protect the rights and interests of the association's farms, promote the development and implementation of new technologies for efficient pork production, expand sales markets, and protect the domestic market.
