Three kinds of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants have been discovered and have been shown to be widely distributed among clinical isolates: qnr genes, aac(6)-Ib-cr, and qepA. Few data on the prevalence of these determinants in strains from animals are available. The presence of PMQR genes in isolates from animals was determined by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. The production of extended-spectrum ␤-lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC ␤-lactamases in the strains was detected, and their genotypes were determined. The genetic environment of PMQR determinants in selected plasmids was analyzed. All samples of ceftiofur-resistant (MICs > 8 g/ml) isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae were selected from 36 companion animals and 65 food-producing animals in Guangdong Province, China, between November 2003 and April 2007, including 89 Escherichia coli isolates, 9 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, and isolates of three other genera. A total of 68.3% (69/101) of the isolates produced ESBLs and/or AmpC ␤-lactamases, mainly those of the CTX-M and CMY types. Of the 101 strains, PMQR determinants were present in 35 (34.7%) isolates, with qnr, aac(6)-Ib-cr, and qepA detected alone or in combination in 8 (7.9%), 19 (18.8%), and 16 (15.8%) strains, respectively. The qnr genes detected included one qnrB4 gene, four qnrB6 genes, and three qnrS1 genes. Five strains were positive for both aac(6)-Ib-cr and qepA, while one strain was positive for qnrS1, aac(6)-Ib-cr, and qepA. qnrB6 was flanked by two copies of ISCR1 with an intervening dfr gene downstream and sul1 and qacE⌬1 genes upstream. In another plasmid, aac(6)-Ib-cr followed intI1 and arr-3 was downstream. PMQR determinants are highly prevalent in ceftiofur-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from animals in China. This is the first report of the occurrence of PMQR determinants among isolates from companion animals.

The presence and characterization of plasmid-mediated fosfomycin resistance determinants among Escherichia coli isolates collected from pets in China between 2006 and 2010 were investigated. Twenty-nine isolates (9.0%) were positive for fosA3, and all of them were CTX-M producers. The fosA3 genes were flanked by IS26 and were localized on F2:A؊:B؊ plasmids or on very similar F33:A؊:B؊ plasmids carrying both bla CTX-M-65 and rmtB. These findings indicate that the fosA3 gene may be coselected by antimicrobials other than fosfomycin.

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OqxAB has recently been identified as one of the mechanisms of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR).Compared to what is observed for other PMQR determinants, there is a paucity of data with regard to the prevalence and epidemiology of OqxAB and its contribution to resistance to different antimicrobials. In this study, the prevalence and dissemination of oqxAB and other PMQR genes in Escherichia coli isolates from animals, farmworkers, and the environment in 2002 in China were investigated. Of the 172 E. coli isolates, 39.0% carried oqxA, while only 4.1%, 2.9%, and 0.6% carried qnr (1 qnrB6 isolate, 5 qnrS1 isolates, and 1 qnrD isolate), qepA, and aac(6)-Ib-cr, respectively. Among the 33 isolates from farmworkers, 10 (30.3%) were positive for oqxA. oqxAB was associated with IS26 and was carried on the 43-to 115-kb IncF transferable plasmid. Transconjugants carrying oqxAB showed 4-to 16-fold increases in the MICs of quinolones, 16-to 64-fold increases in the MICs of quinoxalines, 8-to 32-fold increases in the MICs of chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 4-to 8-fold increases in the MICsof florfenicol compared to the levels for the recipient. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed that the high levels of prevalence and dissemination of oqxAB in E. coli in animal farms were primarily due to the transmission of plasmids carrying oqxAB, although clonal transmission between human and swine E. coli isolates was observed. It is concluded that oqxAB was widespread in animal farms in China, which may be due to the overuse of quinoxalines in animals. This study warrants the prudent use of quinoxalines in food animals.

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