Plasmid Typing and Resistance Profiling of Escherichia fergusonii and Other Enterobacteriaceae Isolates from South Korean Farm Animals

Abstract

In this study, we focused on determining the distribution and prevalence of major plasmid replicons in ␤-lactam-resistant Escherichia fergusonii and Enterobacteriaceae of animal and human origin. A high degree of plasmid variability and multiple plasmid replicons were observed among the isolates. The IncF and IncI1 replicons were the most prevalent in E. fergusonii and Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana isolated from swine and poultry in South Korea, respectively. The presence of broad-host-range plasmid replicons such as IncN, IncA/C, IncHI1, and IncHI2 that are associated with important virulence genes and toxins as well as antimicrobial resistance determinants indicates that E. fergusonii has the potential to become an important pig pathogen and possible emerging opportunistic zoonotic pathogen.

Molecular identification and antimicrobial resistence of Escherichia fergusonii and Escherichia coli from dairy cattle with diarrhoea

“…was observed and more resistant strains of E. fergusonii and E. coli have been described. Antimicrobial resistance has also been reported against various existing therapeutic antimicrobials (Rayamajhi et al 2011) and a large number of antibiotic-resistant E. fergusonii strains have been identified (Forgetta et al 2012). Current identification methods for E. fergusonii include the use of differential and selective media as well as biochemical profiling methods such as API 20E.…”

“…Although E. fergusonii is isolated from specimens such as blood, urine and faeces, its clinical significance has been underestimated and has not been taken into account in the literature. The food chain and environment may be contaminated by colonisation of potentially pathogenic E. fergusonii (Rayamajhi et al 2011) in the cattle gut. Current diagnostic methods for identification of E. fergusonii consist of inoculation into selective and differential media and biochemical identification methods such as API 20E.…”

Duplex PCR Methods for the Molecular Detection of Escherichia fergusonii Isolates from Broiler Chickens

“…Interspecies genetic transfer among E. fergusonii, E. coli, and Shigella has already been observed and could lead to more-virulent strains (3,6). Antimicrobial resistance to several available therapeutic options has also been observed (5), and one recently characterized E. fergusonii isolate was found to be resistant to numerous antibiotics (8).…”

“…This bacterium also has been isolated from human blood, urine, feces, spinal fluid, and, most often, wound exudates from people with conditions such as sepsis, urinary tract infections, enteric diseases, pancreatic carcinoma, and wound infection (2,3,6,7). Several virulence factors, including the presence of a heat-labile toxin on a plasmid, are involved in the pathogenesis of E. fergusonii (2,5,8). Interspecies genetic transfer among E. fergusonii, E. coli, and Shigella has already been observed and could lead to more-virulent strains (3,6).…”

“…Since then, E. fergusonii has been recognized as an important emerging opportunistic pathogen of both animals and humans. In animals, E. fergusonii has been isolated from pigs, sheep, cattle, goats, horses, reindeer, ostriches, turkeys, and chickens displaying symptoms of salmonellosis-like infections, including diarrhea as well as mastitis, meningitis, abortion, and septicemia (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). This bacterium also has been isolated from human blood, urine, feces, spinal fluid, and, most often, wound exudates from people with conditions such as sepsis, urinary tract infections, enteric diseases, pancreatic carcinoma, and wound infection (2,3,6,7).…”