Antimicrobial Resistance of Commensal Escherichia coli Isolated from Food Animals in Qatar

Abstract

Background: The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria is associated with the inappropriate use of antibiotics in both humans and animals. In particular, the use of antibiotics for prophylactic and growth promotion purposes in foodproducing animals, in addition to animal-group medication for prolonged times, have rendered many of the antibiotics ineffective, returning us to the old times when a simple infection could be deadly. Objectives: This study aims at evaluating the incidence of AMR in Qatar under the one health approach; i.e., human-animal-environmental interface.Specifically, we aim to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic AMR pattern of 18 clinically relevant antibiotics in major food-producing animals. Ultimately, we aim to compare our findings to the data released by the monitoring programs in Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) along with previously published reports from Qatar. Methods: Animal fecal samples from camels, cattle, and pigeons (100 samples from each species) were collected from slaughterhouses and farms distributed in different locations in Qatar. One gram of fecal sample was vigorously homogenized with 3 ml sterile Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), the suspension was streaked directly onto chromogenic Tryptone Bile Xglucuronide agar for E. coli detection. Single typical E. coli colonies (blue-green) were randomly selected and streaked onto MacConkey agar plates and then recovered on iv nutrient agar plates for lactose fermentation testing by indole spot. The antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted using a Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. Results: A total recovery rate of 88.7% (n=266) achieved from all samples. Overall, E. coli isolates had resistance to ten antibiotics in pigeon group, eight antibiotics in cattle group and only five antibiotics in camel group. Resistance to at least one antibiotic was recorded in 63 E. coli isolates (70.7%) from pigeons, 32 isolates (37.2%) from cattle and only in 19 isolates (20.8%) from camels. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) was highest in isolates from pigeons reaching 50% (n=44), followed by isolates from cattle (7%) and camels (2.2%). Highest resistance rate was observed against tetracycline, reaching a frequency of 64%, 27.9% and 15% of isolates from pigeons, cattle and camels, respectively (p <0.0001). Moreover, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (an antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections) resistance was present in 22.2% (n=59) of all E. coli isolates, with the highest prevalence in pigeons (49.4%), followed by 11.6% in cattle and 5% in camels. Interestingly, one E. coli isolate from pigeon showed resistance to colistin, a drug of last resort in human medicine against gram-negative bacterial infection.Conclusions: We previously reported high multi-drug resistance of commensal E. coli in chickens, with significant resistance to colistin. We observed lower AMR profile in ruminants, presumably due to the different antibiotics used in the two animal industries.

Detection of blaOXA-48 and mcr-1 Genes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Pigeon (Columba livia) in Algeria

“…However, there have only been a few reports of the mcr gene in pigeons. In agreement with our findings, a study in Qatar reported that only one E. coli isolate from pigeon faecal samples harboured the mcr- 1 gene [ 8 ]. mcr- 1 and mcr- 3 genes have also been detected in China, with a prevalence of 13.1% and 5.1%, respectively [ 46 ].…”

“…The presence of multi-drug resistant bacteria in pigeons is generally linked to faecal contamination of both human and animal origin [ 7 ]. Carriage of such bacteria in pigeon faeces has been reported in different countries, with much of the focus being on Escherichia coli species [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli Isolates from Healthy Food Animals in South Korea, 2010–2020

“…In contrast, Kyung-Hyo et al (2020) and Zhang et al (2017) reported a relatively high occurrence of colistin (11–26%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (29%) resistance in isolates from broiler chickens and/or swine in Korea and China, respectively [ 12 , 22 ]. Recently, the plasmid-borne mcr-1 and mcr-3 genes which are associated with the emergence of colistin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae including E. coli have been detected in food animals in Korea [ 46 , 47 ]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the third and higher generation of cephalosporins, quinolones and colistin as priorities among critically important antimicrobials for treating serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria [ 48 ].…”

Bacteria Isolated from Free-range Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) Eggs Sold in Semiarid Conditions and its One Health Impact

“…However, this use is often made in an empirical and indiscriminate manner, providing the increasing appearance of bacterial strains resistant to these drugs, causing economic and health impacts. Within this context, research demonstrates an increase in the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria that are isolated from farm animals, especially those belonging to the order Enterobacterales [1,18,26]. This scenario has culminated in the increasingly frequent appearance of multidrug-resistant species, requiring multidisciplinary efforts for prevention and control, in addition to laboratory detection.…”

“…The outer part of the egg (shell) was cleaned with 70% alcohol and shortly afterwards, by viewing through an ovoscope, a small part of this shell was broken with sterile forceps in the lower portion where the air chamber is located, forming an air hole of approximately 1 cm, without damaging the membrane between shell and albumen to separate the albumen and yolk using a syringe for aspiration. Then, the aspirated material (albumen and yolk separated) was enriched in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) 1 broth in the ratio of 2 mL of egg content in 3 mL of BHI for 24 h at temperature of 37ºC and later sown in Petri plates containing 5% defibrinated sheep blood agar 1 , MacConckey agar 1 , and agar agar 1 at a depth of 4 mm. After cultivation, the plates were incubated at 37ºC in aerobiosis for 24-48 h to check for bacterial growth.…”