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QnrS1- and Aac(6')-Ib-cr-Producing Escherichia coli among Isolates from Animals of Different Sources: Susceptibility and Genomic Characterization

Publication . Jones-Dias, Daniela; Manageiro, Vera; Graça, Rafael; Sampaio, Daniel A.; Albuquerque, Teresa; Themudo, Patrícia; Vieira, Luís; Ferreira, Eugénia; Clemente, Lurdes; Caniça, Manuela

Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli can inhabit humans and animals from multiple origins. These bacteria are often associated with gastroenteritis in animals, being a frequent cause of resistant zoonotic infections. In fact, bacteria from animals can be transmitted to humans through the food chain and direct contact. In this study, we aimed to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of a collection of S. enterica and E. coli recovered from animals of different sources, performing a genomic comparison of the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR)-producing isolates detected. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed a high number of non-wild-type isolates for fluoroquinolones among S. enterica recovered from poultry isolates. In turn, the frequency of non-wild-type E. coli to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin was higher in food-producing animals than in companion or zoo animals. Globally, we detected two qnrS1 and two aac(6')-Ib-cr in E. coli isolates recovered from animals of different origins. The genomic characterization of QnrS1-producing E. coli showed high genomic similarity (O86:H12 and ST2297), although they have been recovered from a healthy turtle dove from a Zoo Park, and from a dog showing symptoms of infection. The qnrS1 gene was encoded in a IncN plasmid, also carrying bla TEM-1-containing Tn3. Isolates harboring aac(6')-Ib-cr were detected in two captive bottlenose dolphins, within a time span of two years. The additional antibiotic resistance genes of the two aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive isolates (bla OXA-1, bla TEM-1,bla CTX-M-15, catB3, aac(3)-IIa, and tetA) were enclosed in IncFIA plasmids that differed in a single transposase and 60 single nucleotide variants. The isolates could be assigned to the same genetic sublineage-ST131 fimH30-Rx (O25:H4), confirming clonal spread. PMQR-producing isolates were associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic hosts, which highlight the aptitude of E. coli to act as silent vehicles, allowing the accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes, mobile genetic elements and other relevant pathogenicity determinants. Continuous monitoring of health and sick animals toward the presence of PMQR should be strongly encouraged in order to restrain the clonal spread of these antibiotic resistant strains.

2016-05-23Journal article

Open access

New Class 2 Integron In2-4 Among IncI1-Positive Escherichia coli Isolates Carrying ESBL and PMAβ Genes from Food Animals in Portugal

Publication . Jones-Dias, Daniela; Manageiro, Vera; Martins, Ana P.; Ferreira, Eugénia; Caniça, Manuela

The impact of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (PMAβs) of animal origin constitutes a public health concern. In this study, 179 Escherichia coli from food animals and products were analyzed, among which, 15 cephalosporin-resistant isolates harboring ESBL (CTX-M-1 [n = 8], CTX-M-14 [n = 1], SHV-12 [n = 2]) or PMAβ [CMY-2, n = 5]) were identified in poultry and swine, from different farms of distinct regions of Portugal. The multiple sequence-type IncI1-driven spread of ESBLs and PMAβs, flanked by widely disseminated mobile elements, was guaranteed by ST26/IncI1-harboring blaSHV-12, ST12/IncI1-harboring blaCMY-2, ST3 and ST38/IncI1-harboring blaCTX-M-1, and ST1/IncI1-harboring blaCTX-M-14. An IS10-disrupted In2-4, presenting a new attI2 recombination site, was also detected in a SHV-12/CTX-M-1-harboring isolate. This study highlights the fact that animals may act as persistent sources of ESBL- and PMAβ-harboring plasmids genes that might be transferred to humans through direct contact or via the food chain.

2016Journal article

Restricted access

Assessing the molecular basis of transferable quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from food-producing animals and food products

Publication . Jones-Dias, D.; Manageiro, V.; Francisco, A.P.; Martins, A.P.; Domingues, G.; Louro, D.; Ferreira, E.; Caniça, M.

Enterobacteriaceae resistant to quinolones frequently arise in animals, being easily disseminated through the food-chain. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants in Salmonella spp. (n=183) and Escherichia coli (n=180) isolates, collected from food-producing animals and food products among swine, poultry, rabbits and cattle. All isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular screening of PMQR determinants. β-Lactamase-encoding genes, and the quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE genes were also investigated in PMQR-positive isolates. Plasmid characterization was performed by conjugation, followed by replicon-typing. Genetic relatedness of PMQR-positive E. coli was examined by Multilocus Sequence Typing, while Salmonella was previously serotyped. The association of mobile genetic elements and PMQR was investigated through PCR mapping assays. Overall, 4.1% (15/363) isolates harbored qnrB2 (n=3), qnrB19 (n=3), and qnrS1 (n=9) genes. All but one isolate presented one to four mutations in QRDR of gyrA or parC genes, which is consistent with the range of MIC values detected (0.19-64 mg/L) for ciprofloxacin; 60% (9/15) of qnr-harboring isolates were non-susceptible to β-lactam antibiotics which was justified by the presence of β-lactamases from TEM (TEM-1, n=8; TEM-135, n=1) and SHV (SHV-108, n=1) families. Analysis of mobile genetic elements revealed that qnr genes were detected nearby relevant genetic elements like intI1, ISEcl2, IS26 and ISCR1 and enclosed in diverse Inc. type plasmids. This study illustrated the existence of Qnr-producing E. coli and Salmonella from food-producing animals, associated to specific mobile elements that might mediate their transference between species and among distinct settings.

2013-12-27Journal article

Restricted access