High Genetic Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli Highlight Arapaima gigas (Pisces: Arapaimidae) as a Reservoir of Quinolone-Resistant Strains in Brazilian Amazon Rivers

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli in distinct ecological niches, comprising water sources and food-producing animals, such as fish species, has been widely reported. In the present study, quinolone-resistant E. coli isolates from Arapirama gigas, a major fish species in the Brazilian Amazon rivers and fish farms, were characterized regarding their antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence, and genetic diversity. A total of forty (40) specimens of A. gigas, including 20 farmed and 20 wild fish, were included. Thirty-four quinolone-resistant E. coli isolates were phenotypically tested by broth microdilution, while resistance and virulence genes were detected by PCR. Molecular epidemiology and genetic relatedness were analyzed by MLST and PFGE typing. The majority of isolates were classified as MDR and detected harboring blaCTX-M, qnrA and qnrB genes. Enterotoxigenic E. coli pathotype (ETEC) isolates were presented in low prevalence among farmed animals. MLST and PFGE genotyping revealed a wide genetic background, including the detection of internationally spread clones. The obtained data point out A. gigas as a reservoir in Brazilian Amazon aquatic ecosystems and warns of the interference of AMR strains in wildlife and environmental matrices.

Gram‐negative bacterial diversity and evidence of international clones of multidrug‐resistant strains in zoo animals

“…In South America, ST7973 and ST1178 strains carrying mcr-1 or mcr-9 genes have been detected in human infection (Wise et al 2018) and wild birds (Ahlstrom et al 2022), respectively. In Brazil, ciprofloxacin-resistant and ESBLproducing ST7973 strains were identified in farmed and wild fish (Lima et al 2022). Interestingly, some of the E. coli STs found in this study were previously reported in different zoo animals in the Czech Republic (ST58, ST155, and ST410) (Dobiasova et al 2013) and Brazil (ST58) (Fuentes-Castillo et al 2021).…”

“…In Brazil, ciprofloxacin‐resistant and ESBL‐producing ST7973 strains were identified in farmed and wild fish (Lima et al. 2022). Interestingly, some of the E. coli STs found in this study were previously reported in different zoo animals in the Czech Republic (ST58, ST155, and ST410) (Dobiasova et al.…”

One health clones of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli carried by synanthropic animals in Brazil

“…In Brazil, high-risk clones of E. coli belonging to ST10 has been mostly identified in environmental and animal sources, including coastal waters, penguins, and cattle [ 26 , 27 ]. ST155 has been recently described as a potential food-borne pathogen, since it can cause disease in both poultry and humans [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]; having been recently identified in Brazil in humans, urban-impacted coastal waters and river fishes [ 31 , 26 , 32 ].…”

“…ST224 is a global clone frequently described in food production animals and retail food [ 33 , 34 ], as well as wild animals [ 35 , 36 ], having also been reported causing urinary tract infection in humans [ 37 ]. In Brazil, ST224 was identified in swine, companion animals and river fishes [ 32 , 34 , 38 ]. The ST457 has been recently described as an emerging extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli found mainly in wildlife and in food-producing animals [ 39 ], having also been reported in marine environment in Brazil [ 40 ], whereas transmission from companion animals to humans has been documented in China [ 41 ].…”