Plasmid profiles of multidrug-resistant escherichia coli from clinically healthy swine

Abstract

A total of 145 Escherichia coli isolates originated from clinically-healthy pigs were analyzed for plasmid profiles. All but one isolate (n=144) carried one to nine plasmids with size ranging from 0.7-16.2 Mda. Fifty-six plasmid profiles were defined based on sizes and numbers of plasmids in each strain, of which the most common patterns were 15.8, 4, 3.3, 1.7, 1.3 Mda and 16.2, 15.8, 4, 3.3, 2.3, 1.7, 1.3, 1, 0.7 Mda. The results indicate wide distribution of plasmids among the commensal E. coli isolates originated from clinically-healthy pigs.