Vibrios from the Norwegian marine environment: Characterization of associated antibiotic resistance and virulence genes

Abstract

A total of 116 Vibrio isolates comprising V. alginolyticus (n = 53), V. metschnikovii (n = 38), V. anguillarum (n = 21), V. antiquarius (n = 2), and V. fujianensis (n = 2) were obtained from seawater, fish, or bivalve molluscs from temperate Oceanic and Polar Oceanic area around Norway. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed resistance or reduced susceptibility to ampicillin (74%), oxolinic acid (33%), imipenem (21%), aztreonam (19%), and tobramycin (17%). Whole‐genome sequence analysis of eighteen drug‐resistant isolates revealed the presence of genes like β‐lactamases, chloramphenicol‐acetyltransferases, and genes conferring tetracycline and quinolone resistance. The strains also carried virulence genes like hlyA, tlh, rtxA to D and aceA, E and F. The genes for cholerae toxin (ctx), thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), or zonula occludens toxin (zot) were not detected in any of the isolates. The present study shows low prevalence of multidrug resistance and absence of virulence genes of high global concern among environmental vibrios in Norway. However, in the light of climate change, and projected rising sea surface temperatures, even in the cold temperate areas, there is a need for frequent monitoring of resistance and virulence in vibrios to be prepared for future public health challenges.

Antibiotic Sensitivity Screening of Klebsiella spp. and Raoultella spp. Isolated from Marine Bivalve Molluscs Reveal Presence of CTX-M-Producing K. pneumoniae

“…The overall results from our study are in accordance with previous studies on AMR in bacteria from the Norwegian marine environment, where low prevalence of acquired resistance was found in E. coli and Vibrio spp. [22,60,61]. In the present study, acquired resistance was only found in few K. pneumoniae isolates and in none of the other isolated species.…”

Comparison of Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence Genes, Phylogroups, and Biofilm Formation of Escherichia coli Isolated From Intensive Farming and Free-Range Sheep

“…However, the eaeA gene and fasA gene may play a major role in adherence/colonization, causing attaching/effacing lesions (Rehman et al, 2017;Stromberg et al, 2020). The emergence of virulence gene patterns observed in the current study might be due to horizontal gene transfer mediating transfer virulence factors (Håkonsholm et al, 2020).…”

Vibrio metschnikovii: Current state of knowledge and discussion of recently identified clinical case

“…Vibrio metschnikovii is ubiquitous in water (both salty and fresh), particularly in 2020, 38 species of Vibrio metschnikovii were selected from the Norwegian Sea nearby the Norwegian coast and from the herring fish of the same Sea 7 . Vibrio metschnikovii is associated with the ability to cause human diseases, mostly diarrhea, skin infections, and bacteremia; otherwise, some authors say that Vibrio metschnikovii induce only extraintestinal symptoms.…”

“…Also, this pathogen was found in the chicken's intestines and together with E. coli caused hepatitis 10 . 38 strains indicated nearby the Norwegian seashore had the genes of resistance adeF (responsible for polypharmacological efflux mechanism), blaCARB (responsible for carbenicillin resistance), catB‐related (responsible for chloramphenicol resistance), and genes that are responsible for pathogenicity factors Hem III (hemolysin type III), hylA, tlh 7 . Usually, the pathogen has huge plasmids (190‐340 кB), but their function is not exactly known.…”

“…Ten strains were isolated from the lakes, specifically those situated on the graphite quarries, in Slovakia had 100% resistance to penicillin and 90% streptomycin resistance 6 . 13% pathogens found in the Norwegian Sea turned out to be tobramycin‐resistant and 21%—ampicillin‐resistant 7 . Some authors 5 report about 91% resistance to penicillin G, 95% sulfadiazine, 86% kanamycin, and 69% ampicillin resistance.…”