Molecular characterization of blaESBL-producing Escherichia coli cultured from pig farms in Ireland. F1B2

Six ESBL-producing E. coli were recovered from fecal samples taken from pigs along with a further isolate from a farrowing house on 38 pig farms in Ireland. Phylogenetic grouping and MLST analyses were carried out. Broth mating assays were used to determine if the ESBL marker could be transferred via conjugation. High-molecular weight plasmid profiles were determined by S1-nuclease PFGE and these plasmids were typed by PBRT. Capacity to form biofilms, associated motility and growth curves were used to assess any possible fitness costs associated with the carriage of high-molecular weight plasmids. Whole-genome sequences of the 7 E. coli were determined and subsequently analyzed.