Unraveling Antimicrobial Resistance Dynamics in <i>Mycoplasma gallisepticum</i>: Insights Into Antibiotic and Disinfectant Interactions

A major risk to the poultry industry is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specifically with regard to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infections. The sensitivity patterns of 100 MG isolates to biocides and antibiotics were examined in this study to clarify the interactions between antimicrobial agents and resistance mechanisms. The antimicrobial activity against MG was assessed using broth microdilution, and the results are shown as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each strain, the MIC distribution (range), the MIC₅₀, and/or the MIC₉₀. The statistical associations between the MICs of the antibiotics and biocides were investigated using regression model analysis and correlation coefficients. The absence of a cell wall in MG inherently confers resistance to beta-lactams, thereby necessitating the utilization of enrofloxacin, difloxacin, flumequine, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, tylosin, tilmicosin, tylvalosin, erythromycin, spiramycin, tiamulin, lincomycin, spectinomycin and dihydrostreptomycin. These antibiotics exhibited MIC₅₀ values of 0.5, 0.5, 0.12, 0.062, 0.12, 0.031, 0.016, 0.016, 0.062, 16, 1, 0.008, 2, 0.5 and 32, respectively. In addition to antibiotics, disinfectants have garnered attention for their contribution to the development of AMR in MG. Notably, formalin, phenol, NADES, Halamid, Virkon-S, MicroSet and SteriSet exhibited MIC₅₀ values of 125, 500, 31.25, 15.63, 15.63, 7.81 and 62.5, respectively. Significant positive correlations and direct associations were identified between various biocides and the development of antibiotic resistance, with coefficients ranging from 0.098 to 1.176. This research highlights the intricate nature of resistance profiles in MG and underscores the necessity for a thorough understanding of antimicrobial interactions. This finding emphasizes the importance of managing emerging AMR stemming from disinfectant misuse in the poultry farms to prevent additional constraints on antibiotic treatment options.