Enterobacterales and Antimicrobial Resistance in Feed, Water, and Slurry in Pig Production Farms in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, 2024

Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels in Enterobacterales from pigs in Ghana prompted us to investigate farm feed, pig slurry, and farm water for Enterobacterales isolates, their antimicrobial resistance patterns, and antimicrobial residues. Between August and November 2024, we collected one sample each of feed, slurry, and water from 14 pig farms for microbiological analysis. Out of 42 samples, Enterobacterales (<i>E. coli</i> and <i>Enterobacter</i> spp.) were isolated from 30 (71.4%) samples, with the highest prevalence found in feed (85.7%), followed by slurry (78.6%) and water (50.0%). The prevalence of AMR to tetracyclines, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin was high, with over 50% of isolates from slurry and water and 40% from feed exhibiting tetracycline resistance. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was identified in nine (27.3%) isolates of Enterobacterales, with the highest prevalence found in feed (38.5%), then slurry (23.1%), and water (14.3%). Among 42 farm samples screened for colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, 10 (23.8%) exhibited phenotypic colistin resistance. No antimicrobial residues were detected. Risk factors associated with MDR included large farms with high pig turnover (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and the channelling of slurry into both covered and uncovered pits on the farm (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These high resistance levels underscore the urgent need for improved hygiene in feed, water, and slurry management, stricter antibiotic stewardship with veterinary oversight, and better enforcement of existing antibiotic use regulations on pig farms.