Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Characteristics of Vibrio Isolates From Rustic Environmental Freshwaters

Abstract

The study investigated the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence determinants in Vibrio species recovered from different freshwater sheds in rustic milieu. A total of 118 Vibrio isolates comprising Vibrio fluvialis (n=41), Vibrio mimicus (n=40) and V. vulnificus (n=37) was identified by amplification of ToxR, vmh and hsp60 genes. The amplification of virulence genes indicated that V. mimicus (toxR, zot, ctx, VPI, and ompU) genes were detected in 12.5%, 32.5%, 45%, 37.5% and 10% respectively. V. fluvialis genes (stn, hupO and vfh) were harboured in 48.8%, 14.6% and 19.5% isolates congruently. The other virulence genes that include vcgC and vcgE were observed in 63.1% and 29% of isolates belonging to V. vulnificus. With the exceptions of imipenem, meropenem and ciprofloxacin, most isolates exhibited more than 50% resistance to antibiotics. The antimicrobial resistance was more prevalent for polymyxin B (100%), azithromycin (100%) and least in ciprofloxacin (16.1%). Multiple antibiotic resistance index range was 0.3 and 0.8 with most isolates showing MARI of 0.8. The blaTEM, AmpC, blaGES, blaIMP, blaOXA-48 and blaKPC genes were detected in 53.3%, 42%, 29.6%, 16.6%, 15%, 11.3% and 5.6% of the isolates. Non-beta lactamases such as streptomycin resistance (aadA and strA), gentamicin resistance (aphA1) and quinolone resistance gene (qnrVC) were found in 5.2%, 44.3%, 26% and 2.8%. Chloramphenicol resistance genes (cmlA1 and catII) were found in 5.2% and 44.3% among the isolates. Our findings reveal the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulent Vibrio species in aquatic environment which can have potential risk to human and animal’s health.

Aquatic environments: A potential source of antimicrobial-resistant Vibrio spp.

“…Most resistant isolates harboured sul1 , sul2 and ermA resistant genes, encoded for the sulphonamide and erythromycin resistance. The study done by Gxalo et al (2021) reported that Vibrio spp. isolated from wastewater in aquatic sites were 100% resistant against polymyxin B and azithromycin, whilst more than 70% of the species were resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin‐sulbactam, cefuroxime and chloramphenicol.…”

“…isolated from wastewater in aquatic sites were 100% resistant against polymyxin B and azithromycin, whilst more than 70% of the species were resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin‐sulbactam, cefuroxime and chloramphenicol. Also, the antimicrobial resistance was confirmed by the presence of several ARGs, including beta‐lactam resistance genes ( bla TEM , AmpC , bla GES , bla IMP , bla OXA‐48 and bla KPC ), streptomycin resistance genes ( aadA and strA ), gentamicin resistance gene ( aphA1 ), quinolone resistance gene ( qnrVC ) and chloramphenicol resistance genes ( cmlA1 and catII ) (Gxalo et al, 2021). Also, Ho et al (2003) reported that all Vibrio spp.…”

Insights into Carbapenem Resistance in Vibrio Species: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…has been identified beyond the clinical territories. Antibiogram signatures revealed traits of resistance among Vibrio isolates from recreational beaches [ 60 ], coastal water [ 130 ], river water [ 131 ], and urban tropical estuary [ 20 ]. Additionally, surveillance results testified to the presence of carbapenem-resistant isolates in food such as salad [ 132 ] and seafood, particularly shrimps, mussels, and marine and freshwater fishes [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 75 , 81 , 83 , 121 , 133 , 134 ].…”

“…Reassuringly, a majority of the degrees of resistance are not high, mostly less than 10%, except for surveillance reports for environmental samples from Chhatak, Bangladesh [ 139 ], Lagos, Nigeria, Uganda [ 159 ], Eastern Cape, South Africa [ 131 ], Norway [ 83 ]; clinical samples in India [ 57 , 59 ]; seafood samples in Korea [ 134 ], Malaysia [ 27 , 32 ], Nigeria [ 121 ], and Egypt [ 75 ]. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern associated with the 16 Vibrio species covered in the existing surveillance report is highly diverse, with the carbapenem-resistance remarkably prevalent in V. parahaemolyticus [ 32 , 75 , 134 ], V. cholerae [ 59 , 140 ], V. vulnificus [ 60 ], V. fluvialis [ 57 , 131 ], V. anguillarum [ 83 ], and V. alginolyticus [ 75 ]. More worryingly, an increasing trend of intermediate-resistance transpires, indicating an evolution towards the expression of resistant phenotypes [ 140 ].…”

“…More worryingly, an increasing trend of intermediate-resistance transpires, indicating an evolution towards the expression of resistant phenotypes [ 140 ]. Take, for an example, the environmental samples (wastewater effluent) at Eastern Cape collected by Okoh and Igbinosa [ 158 ] in 2010, which presented with absolute susceptibility to carbapenem, whereas, after a decade, the environmental sample (river water) gathered by Gxalo, Digban, Igere, Olapade, Okoh, and Nwodo [ 131 ] at Eastern Cape demonstrated high levels of resistance to MER and IMI. The carbapenem-resistance among Vibrio isolates should garner increasing attention as their existence is widespread across the globe, spanning across diverse climate zones.…”