Extended-spectrum β-lactamases, transferable quinolone resistance, and virulotyping in extra-intestinal E. coli in Uruguay

Abstract

Introduction: To characterize extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in Escherichia coli isolates obtained from extra-intestinal samples in three Uruguayan hospitals. Methodology: Fifty-five ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were studied. Virulence genes, ESBLs, and PMQR genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. ESBL-producing isolates were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Multi-locus sequence typing was also performed on 13 selected isolates. Results: Thirty-seven isolates harbored bla CTX-M-15 (67.3%), eight bla CTX-M-2 (14.6%), five bla CTX-M-14 (9.1%), three carried both bla CTX-M-2 and bla CTX-M-14 , one bla CTX-M-9 , and one bla CTX-M-8 . Among the CTX-M-15 producers, 92% belonged to sequence types ST131 and ST405, and carried aac(6')Ib-cr as well. Isolates harboring bla CTX-M-2 , bla CTX-M-14 , bla CTX-M-9 , or bla CTX-M-8 were found to be genetically unrelated. Conclusions: The successful dissemination of CTX-M-15-producing E.coli isolates seems to be linked to the spreading of high-risk clones and horizontal gene transfer. A trade-off between carrying more antibiotic resistance and less virulence-related genes could partially account for the evolutionary advantages featured by successful clones.

Zoonotic Potential and Antibiotic Resistance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Neonatal Calves in Uruguay

“…Some previously reported ST have been assigned exclusively to E. coli of animal origin, whereas most have been assigned to E. coli isolates of animal and human origins. Of these, ST69 has been widely characterized in ExPEC infections (particularly in human UPEC infection) ( 52 ), including human infections in our country ( 59 ); however, it has also been detected in environmental samples, such as freshwater ( 40 ). On the other hand, one E. coli isolate was affiliated to ST21, a member of the ST29 complex.…”

“…CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15 are considered to be the most prevalent members of the ESBL CTX-M group within multi-resistant E. coli ( 51 ). The most frequently identified ESBLs in Uruguay are CTX-M-15, CTX-M-14, CTX-M-2, SHV-5, and SHV-12 among others, and have only been detected in human clinical samples to date ( 3 , 58 , 59 ). Besides multi-resistant E. coli phenotypes, genetic analyses on transferable resistant mechanisms are imperative.…”

“…There are currently no studies available on antimicrobial resistance genes in bovine E. coli in Uruguay. However, the presence of class 1 integrons, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), class C β-lactamases (AmpC), and plasmid-mediated quinolones resistance genes (PMQRg) has been detected in Salmonella enterica and/or E. coli in our country ( 3 , 4 , 16 , 58 , 59 ). Among transferable resistance genes, plasmid colistin resistance genes ( mcr-1 and mcr-2 ), which have already been identified in humans, but mainly in livestock and farm animals, have emerged around the world as a new threat to human health ( 32 ).…”

International clones of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (CTX‐M)‐producingEscherichia coliin peri‐urban wild animals, Brazil

“…In some cases, E. coli ST744 has been associated with plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 and mcr-3) (Haenni et al, 2018;Tacão et al, 2017). Furthermore, ESBL or CMY-2-producing E. coli ST212 and ST1158 were previously isolated from farm animals, animal production chain and humans (Cadona, Bustamante, Gonzalez, & Sanso, 2016;Castellanos et al, 2017;Maamar et al, 2016;Mo, Slettemeas, Berg, Norstrom, & Sunde, 2016;Steinsland, Lacher, Sommerfelt, & Whittam, 2010;Vignoli et al, 2016;Zurfluh et al, 2014). Carbapenemase or CMY-2-producing E. coli ST212 was also recovered from diseased companion animal and water environments (Tafoukt et al, was recovered from food animals (Vogt et al, 2014).…”

“…Nowadays, most ESBL-producing Escherichia coli circulating at the human-animal-environment interface belong to international sequence types (STs) such as ST10, ST38, ST58, ST131, ST212, ST648, ST744, ST1158 and ST1251 (Borges, Tarlton, & Riley, 2019;Cao et al, 2014;Castellanos et al, 2017;Haenni et al, 2018;Nüesch-Inderbinen et al, 2019;Pitout, 2012;Tacão et al, 2017;Tafoukt, Touati, Leangapichart, Bakour, & Rolain, 2017;Vignoli et al, 2016;Zurfluh et al, 2017), suggesting a broad host adaptation of these pathogens. In this study, we report the occurrence of pandemic clones of CTX-M-producing E. coli recovered from a diversity of peri-urban wild animals in Brazil, highlighting the transmission of this sort of bacteria in anthropogenic-shared environments.…”