Rapid detection of extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli isolated from fresh pork meat and pig cecum samples using multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification and lateral flow strip analysis

The emergence and dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is a global health issue. Food-producing animals, including pigs, are significant reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which can be transmitted to humans. Thus, the rapid detection of ESBLs is required for efficient epidemiological control and treatment. In this study, multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with a single-stranded tag hybridization chromatographic printed-array strip (STH-PAS), as a lateral flow strip assay (LFA), was established for the rapid and simultaneous detection of multiple bla genes in a single reaction. Visible blue lines, indicating the presence of the bla_CTX-M, bla_SHV, and bla_OXA genes, were observed within 10 min by the naked eye. The limit of detection of all three genes was 2.5 ng/25 μL, and no cross-reactivity with seven commensal aerobic bacteria was observed. A total of 93.9% (92/98) and 96% (48/50) of the E. coli isolates from pork meat and fecal samples, respectively, expressed an ESBL-producing phenotype. Nucleotide sequencing of the PCR amplicons showed that bla_CTX-M was the most prevalent type (91.3–95.83%), of which the main form was bla_CTX-M-55. The sensitivity and specificity of the RPA-LFA were 99.2% and 100%, respectively, and were in almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.949–1.000) with the results from PCR sequencing. Thus, the RPA-LFA is a promising tool for rapid and equipment-free ESBL detection and may facilitate clinical diagnosis in human and veterinary medicine, as well as AMR monitoring and surveillance.