A systematic review: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli among cattle, companion animals, synanthropic species, and meat products in South America (2020–2024)

The spread of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains among different hosts, including humans, domestic animals, and synanthropic animals, has become a current public health challenge. A comprehensive analysis of bacterial isolates in animals and meat products throughout South America is essential to improve the understanding of their distribution and the different mechanisms of resistance in developing countries. This review aims to evaluate the different studies on ESBL-producing E. coli in animals and meat products in South America, from 2020 to 2024. A systematic search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Latindex from January 1, 2020 to May 1, 2024. Studies published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese on ESBL-producing E. coli from animal sources (dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, cows, rats, and meat products) were conducted across South America. Eighty percent of the included articles reported bla CTX-M genes, with the bla CTX-M-2 gene being the most common with 48.2%. This gene was found mainly in chickens, followed by dogs, cows and pigs. The ST10 clone was the most prevalent, reported in 40% of the included studies, while ST155 was evidenced in 30%. Other clones, such as ST117 and ST131, were identified in 20% of the studies. The increasing prevalence of bla CTX-M resistance genes in E. coli in South American countries highlights the need for effective surveillance and control measures in the animal environment. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in livestock requires multidisciplinary approaches, such as the One Health approach, to address this problem.