Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli From Aquaculture Farms and Their Environment in Zhanjiang, China

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major concern worldwide. To evaluate the AMR of Escherichia coli in aquaculture farms of Zhanjiang, China, a total of 90 samples from the water, soil, and sediment of three aquaculture farms (farms I, II, and III) in Zhanjiang were collected, and 90 strains of E. coli were isolated for drug resistance analysis and AMR gene detection. The results indicated that the isolated 90 strains of E. coli have high resistance rates to penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, compound sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole, chloramphenicol, florfenicol, and rifampin (≥70%). Among these antimicrobial drugs, the resistance rate to rifampicin is as high as 100%. Among the isolated 90 strains of E. coli, all of them were resistant to more than two kinds of antimicrobial drugs, the number of strains resistant to nine kinds of drugs was the largest (19 strains), and the most resistant strain showed resistance to 16 kinds of antibacterial drugs. Regarding the AMR genes, among the three aquaculture farms, the most resistance genes were detected in farm II (28 species). The detection rate of blaTEM, blaCIT, blaNDM, floR, OptrA, cmlA, aphA1, Sul2, oqxA, and qnrS in 90 isolates of E. coli was high (≥50%). The detection rate of carbapenem-resistant genes, such as blaKPC, blaIMP, and cfr, was relatively lower ( ≤ 30%), and the detection rate of mcr2 was the lowest (0). At least four AMR genes were detected for each strain, and 15 AMR genes were detected at most. Among them, the number of strains that carried 10 AMR genes was the largest (15 strains). Finally, a correlation analysis found that the AMR genes including blaTEM, blaCIT, floR, OptrA, cmlA, aac(3)-II, Sul2, ereA, ermB, oqxB, qnrA, mcr1, and mcr2 had a high correlation rate with drug resistance (≥50%). To summarize, the 90 strains of E. coli isolated from water, surrounding soil, and sediment samples showed resistance to multi-antimicrobial drugs and carried various antimicrobial resistance genes. Thus, it is essential to strengthen the rational use of antimicrobial drugs, especially the amide alcohol drugs, and control the AMR in the aquaculture industry of Zhanjiang, China.

Antibiotic Resistance Profiles and ARG Detection from Isolated Bacteria in a Culture-Dependent Study at the Codfish Industry Level

“…Their detections cannot exclusively represent an improper GHP application. Indeed, Staphylococcus spp., which have frequently harbored these tet and erm genes, are part of the normal microbiome identified from salted and seasoned codfish or other salted or fermented fish species [ 14 , 29 , 43 , 51 ]. Secondly, horizontal ARG transmission has a key role in their spreading among organic substrates [ 1 ].…”

“…In this study, 392/684, or 57.30%, (95% CI: 53.60–61.00%) bacterial strains harbored numerous ARGs ( bla TEM , bla CIT , bla CTX-M , bla KPC , bla IMP , bla OXA-48-like , tet C, tet K, tet L, erm B, erm C, sul 2, and sul 3) against specific antibiotic classes that were not phenotypically expressed (See Table 8 ). Indeed, the wide detection of ARGs is not always associated with their encoding and its consequential transcriptions [ 29 ]. The suggested scientific hypothesis was that these commensal or pathogenic strains were involved as microenvironmental reservoir forms of resistance, in agreement with previous studies [ 29 , 51 , 53 ].…”

“…Indeed, the wide detection of ARGs is not always associated with their encoding and its consequential transcriptions [ 29 ]. The suggested scientific hypothesis was that these commensal or pathogenic strains were involved as microenvironmental reservoir forms of resistance, in agreement with previous studies [ 29 , 51 , 53 ]. The genetic expressions depend on multiple factors, and results are strongly influenced by environmental stressors, which have resulted to be inductors of specific forms of resistance.…”

Pisciculture and Fish Parts as Non-clinical Source of CTX-M and TEM Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamases Producing Escherichia coli in Southeastern Nigeria

“…The TEM gene was identified in fish body and gills. This gene has been found in pisciculture farms [26,27]. Most Aztreonam and Cephalosporin resistance could be attributed to TEM-lactamase, which has the potential to hydrolyze monobactam, first generation cephalosporins, and extended spectrum cephalosporins.…”

Effects of antibiotics (enrofloxacin) on microbial community of water and sediment in an aquatic ecological model

“…Microorganisms are an important part of the aquatic environment, which play an important role in the response to antibiotics, the spread of drug resistance, and environmental remediation ( 19 ). It has been found that the antibiotics could directly affect the drug resistance of environmental microflora, thus causing environmental toxicity ( 20 , 21 ). However, the relevant reports about the impact of enrofloxacin on the microbial community in the aquatic environment are limited.…”