Antibiotic Resistance Characterization of Environmental E. coli Isolated from River Mula-Mutha, Pune District, India

Abstract

In the current study, ceftazidime- and ciprofloxacin-resistant—or dual drug-resistant (DDR)—E. coli were isolated from river Mula-Mutha, which flows through rural Pune district and Pune city. The DDR E. coli were further examined for antibiotic resistance to six additional antibiotics. The study also included detection of genes responsible for ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin resistance and vectors for horizontal gene transfer. Twenty-eight percent of the identified DDR E. coli were resistant to more than six antibiotics, with 12% being resistant to all eight antibiotics tested. Quinolone resistance was determined through the detection of qnrA, qnrB, qnrS and oqxA genes, whereas cephalosporin resistance was confirmed through detection of TEM, CTX-M-15, CTX-M-27 and SHV genes. Out of 219 DDR E. coli, 8.2% were qnrS positive and 0.4% were qnrB positive. Percentage of isolates positive for the TEM, CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-27 genes were 32%, 46% and 0.9%, respectively. None of the DDR E. coli tested carried the qnrA, SHV and oqxA genes. Percentage of DDR E. coli carrying Class 1 and 2 integrons (mobile genetic elements) were 47% and 8%, respectively. The results showed that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and integrons were present in the E. coli isolated from the river at points adjoining and downstream of Pune city.

Assessment of Antibiotic Levels, Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria and Genetic Biomarkers in the Waters of the Rio Grande River Between the United States-Mexico Border

“…The results in the present study showed that the percentage of TEM (60%) and CTX-M (40%) correlate well with other reports from urban rivers around the world and areas where poor sanitation is a problem 44–47. In agreement with other studies, the SHV gene was only detected in Klebsiella species 28,44…”

CTX-M type extended-spectrum β-lactamase in Escherichia coli isolated from extra-intestinal infections in a tertiary care hospital in south India

“…Among 201 E. coli isolates studied from Shandong Province in China, 116 (57.7%) carried bla CTX-M-14 (Group IV) and only 31 (15.4%) carried bla CTX-M-15 (Group I). In river water in India, bla CTX-M15 accounted for 46 per cent of isolates while 32 per cent isolates were positive for bla TEM 18.…”

Characterization and Bio-Typing of Multidrug Resistance Plasmids From Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated From Clinical Setting

“…The resistant genes were successfully transmitted by conjugation in an environment irrespective of ceftazidme/ciprofloxacin selection. Successive coexistence and co-transmission (Dhawde et al, 2018) of these resistant determinants were previously reported that poses difficulty in health care management. Random administration of the respective group of drugs facilitates mobilization of plasmids that carry resistance genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) through natural mechanisms such as conjugation or transformation (Davies and Davies, 2010).…”