Prevalence and characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and CMY-2-producing Escherichia coli isolates from healthy food-producing animals in Tunisia.
Abstract: The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and plasmidic AmpC-beta-lactamase (pAmpC-BL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates has been studied in food-producing animals at the farm level in Tunisia, and recovered isolates were characterized for the presence of other resistance genes and integrons. Eighty fecal samples of food-producing animals (23 sheep, 22 chickens, 22 cattle, six horses, five rabbits, and two dromedaries) were obtained from 35 different farms in Tunisia in 2011. Samples were inoculated onto MacConkey agar plates supplemented with cefotaxime (2 mg/L) for cefotaxime-resistant (CTX(R)) E. coli recovery. CTX(R) E. coli isolates were detected in 11 out of 80 samples (13.8%), and one isolate per sample was further characterized (10 from chickens and one from a dromedary). The 11 CTX(R) isolates were distributed into phylogroups: B1 (five isolates), A (two isolates), D (three isolates), and B2 (one isolate). The following beta-lactamase genes were detected: bla(CTX-M-1) (seven isolates), bla(CTX-M-1)+bla(TEM-135) (one isolate), bla(CTX-M-1)+bla(TEM-1b) (one isolate), and bla(CMY-2) (two isolates). All ESBL- and pAmpC-BL-producing E. coli strains showed unrelated pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. Seven isolates contained class 1 integrons with four gene cassette arrangements: dfrA17-aadA5 (three isolates), dfrA1-aadA1 (two isolates), dfrA15-aadA1 (one isolate), and aadA1 (one isolate). All isolates showed tetracycline resistance and contained the tet(A) +/- tet(B) genes. Virulence genes detected were as follows (number of isolates in parentheses): fimA (10); aer (eight); papC (two); and papGIII, hly, cnf, and bfp (none). Chicken farms constitute a reservoir of ESBL- and pAmpC-BL-producing E. coli isolates of the CTX-M-1 and CMY-2 types that potentially could be transmitted to humans via the food chain or by direct contact.
Publication Date: 2012-11-29 PubMed ID: 23194332DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2012.1267Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
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Summary
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This research investigates the presence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli bacteria in food-producing animals from Tunisia. The bacterial strains identified are capable of producing specific enzymes that can resist antibiotics, making treatment of infections caused by these bacteria potentially difficult. Furthermore, these bacteria could be transmitted to humans via the food chain or direct contact.
Sampling and Detection:
- The authors collected 80 fecal samples from food-producing animals including sheep, chickens, cattle, horses, rabbits, and dromedaries, from 35 different farms in Tunisia.
- The samples were inoculated onto specific agar plates to identify cefotaxime-resistant E. coli. This antibiotic resistance is significant as these bacteria may also resist treatment with other beta-lactam antibiotics, a common class of drugs.
Characterization of Resistant Strains:
- From the samples, 11 (13.8%) had cefotaxime-resistant E. coli, ten of which came from chickens and one from a dromedary.
- The identified strains belonged to phylogroups B1, A, D, and B2.
- These resistant strains produced the beta-lactamase enzymes CTX-M-1, TEM-135, TEM-1b, and CMY-2. These enzymes break down the antibiotics, allowing the bacteria to survive treatment.
Additional Resistance and Virulence Traits:
- All the resistant strains had unique genetic patterns, indicating they were unrelated.
- Seven strains contained class 1 integrons, mobile genetic elements that can acquire, exchange, and express genes, often conferring further resistance to antibiotics.
- Additionally, all resistant strains showed resistance to tetracycline, another widely-used antibiotic, and contained the tet(A) and/or tet(B) genes responsible for this resistance.
- Various virulence genes, which contribute to the bacteria’s ability to cause disease, were also identified. These included fimA, present in 10 isolates, which is associated with the bacterium’s ability to adhere to host cells; and aer, found in eight isolates, which enhances the bacterium’s survival in oxygen-poor environments. Threatening virulence genes such as hly, cnf, and bfp were not found within the isolates.
Implications:
- The study suggests chicken farms may be a significant reservoir for these antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains.
- The presence of these strains in food-producing animals is concerning as it makes the treatment of any resulting infections complex due to the resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
- Moreover, these bacteria could potentially be transmitted to humans via the food chain or direct contact.
This research highlights the importance of continuous monitoring for antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals and the necessity to develop appropriate strategies to mitigate the spread of resistance.
Cite This Article
APA
Ben Sallem R, Ben Slama K, Sáenz Y, Rojo-Bezares B, Estepa V, Jouini A, Gharsa H, Klibi N, Boudabous A, Torres C.
(2012).
Prevalence and characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and CMY-2-producing Escherichia coli isolates from healthy food-producing animals in Tunisia.
Foodborne Pathog Dis, 9(12), 1137-1142.
https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2012.1267 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratoire Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis-El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Camelus
- Cattle
- Chickens
- Disease Reservoirs
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
- Escherichia coli / drug effects
- Escherichia coli / enzymology
- Escherichia coli / genetics
- Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
- Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
- Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
- Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
- Feces / microbiology
- Genotype
- Horses
- Humans
- Integrons / genetics
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests
- Phylogeny
- Prevalence
- Rabbits
- Serotyping
- Sheep
- Tunisia / epidemiology
- Virulence / genetics
- beta-Lactamases / genetics
- beta-Lactamases / metabolism
Citations
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