Superbugs exposed: The occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals in Suriname

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a risk to both human and animal health, with animals potentially acting as reservoirs of AMR. This study describes the occurrence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase/pAmpC-producing coliforms (ESBL-c), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in food-producing animals in Suriname, a middle-income country in South America where data on AMR in livestock are scarce. Faecal samples from cattle, pigs and poultry were selectively cultured, and isolated bacteria were subsequently whole genome sequenced. Resistant bacteria were frequently detected in livestock: ESBL-c in 55/111 pooled poultry samples (91.7% of the farms), 39/111 pooled pig samples (76.2% of the farms), and 2/111 cattle samples (4.4% of the farms). Across all animal species, bla CTX-M-1 group genes were most frequently detected. CPE carrying bla IMI-1 was found in one of the 111 bovine samples. MRSA was detected in 20 out of 111 pig samples (43% of the farms). These findings provide a baseline for AMR in Surinamese livestock and indicate a potential risk to animal health, as well as the possible role of livestock as a source of resistant bacteria for humans.