Comparative study of the impact of the administration of Amoxicillin and Algo-Bio ® alternative substance to antibiotics, on the level of selection of resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the digestive flora of piglets.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of study was to evaluate by comparative study the level of selection of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the digestive microbiota of piglets when using amoxicillin and Algo-Bio® .

METHODS: Amoxicillin and Algo-Bio® administration was carried out over a period of 5 days (D0-D4) at a dose of 1mL/10kg body weight. A phenotypic study was carried out with enumeration of resistant Enterobacteriaceae on MacConkey agar plates in the presence and absence of amoxicillin. Escherichia coli isolates were identified and were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

RESULTS: The percentages of amoxicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae before treatment ranged from 10-15% for the four groups of piglets. Following treatment initiation, on the second day (D1) to the fifth day (D4) of treatment, the percentages increased to 54-87% for the groups treated with amoxicillin. In the group treated with Algo-Bio® and the controls, the percentages were <50%. The percentage of amoxicillin-resistant E. coli strains to the associated antibiotics increased during days of amoxicillin treatment, whereas in the control and Algo-Bio® groups the percentages of E. coli resistant to antibiotics did not increase.

CONCLUSION: The results indicated that Algo-Bio® constitutes a good alternative prophylactic to antibiotics to reduce bacterial growth in the digestive tract of animals.