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Conjugative Plasmid-Mediated Extended Spectrum Cephalosporin Resistance in Genetically Diverse Escherichia coli from a Chicken Slaughterhouse.

ABSTRACT: ESC-resistant E. coli isolates were collected from broiler chickens, a slaughterhouse, and retail meat to assess their dispersion and their involvement in cross-contamination. ESBL-/AmpC-producing E. coli were isolated during the slaughter process of all six investigated chicken flocks from scalding, feather removal, first conveyor, evisceration, second washing, third conveyor, and third washing areas, and from handling workers in the slaughterhouse. ESC-resistant E. coli isolates with the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type were found in the same site (scalding) on different sampling days. ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli isolates were absent in the lairage area in the slaughterhouse, but present in the retail markets in 36.8% (7/19) of the chicken flocks. The bla_CTX-M genes and bla_CMY-2 were conjugated to recipient E. coli J53 in 67.5% (27/40) and 56.1% (23/41) of ESBL-producing and AmpC-producing E. coli isolates, respectively. The presence of the same conjugative plasmids was found in genetic diversity ESC-resistant E. coli colonies collected on different sampling days. Our study emphasizes that cross-contamination of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli in slaughterhouse has a crucial impact on the occurrence of ESC resistance in retail chicken meat.

SUBMITTER: Wei B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8470599 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (ESC-R-Ec) is an urgent public health threat with sequence type clonal complex 131 (STc131), phylogroup B2 strains being particularly concerning as the dominant cause of ESC-R-Ec infections. To address the paucity of recent ESC-R-Ec molecular epidemiology data in the United States, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to fully characterize a large cohort of invasive ESC-R-Ec at a tertiary care cancer center in Houston, Texas, collected from 2016 to 2020. During the study time frame, there were 1,154 index E. coli bloodstream infections (BSIs) of which 389 (33.7%) were ESC-R-Ec. Using time series analyses, we identified a temporal dynamic of ESC-R-Ec distinct from ESC-susceptible E. coli (ESC-S-Ec), with cases peaking in the last 6 months of the calendar year. WGS of 297 ESC-R-Ec strains revealed that while STc131 strains accounted for ~45% of total BSIs, the proportion of STc131 strains remained stable across the study time frame with infection peaks driven by genetically heterogeneous ESC-R-Ec clonal complexes. bla CTX-M variants accounted for most β-lactamases conferring the ESC-R phenotype (89%; 220/248 index ESC-R-Ec), and amplification of bla CTX-M genes was widely detected in ESC-R-Ec strains, particularly in carbapenem non-susceptible, recurrent BSI strains. Bla CTX-M-55 was significantly enriched within phylogroup A strains, and we identified bla CTX-M-55 plasmid-to-chromosome transmission occurring across non-B2 strains. Our data provide important information regarding the current molecular epidemiology of invasive ESC-R-Ec infections at a large tertiary care cancer center and provide novel insights into the genetic basis of observed temporal variability for these clinically important pathogens. IMPORTANCE Given that E. coli is the leading cause of worldwide ESC-R Enterobacterales infections, we sought to assess the current molecular epidemiology of ESC-R-Ec using a WGS analysis of many BSIs over a 5-year period. We identified fluctuating temporal dynamics of ESC-R-Ec infections, which have also recently been identified in other geographical regions such as Israel. Our WGS data allowed us to visualize the stable nature of STc131 over the study period and demonstrate a limited but genetically diverse group of ESC-R-Ec clonal complexes are detected during infection peaks. Additionally, we provide a widespread assessment of β-lactamase gene copy number in ESC-R-Ec infections and delineate mechanisms by which such amplifications are achieved in a diverse array of ESC-R-Ec strains. These data suggest that serious ESC-R-Ec infections are driven by a diverse array of strains in our cohort and impacted by environmental factors suggesting that community-based monitoring could inform novel preventative measures.

Project description:BackgroundFood-producing animals and their products are considered a source for human acquisition of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria, and poultry are suggested to be a reservoir for Escherichia coli resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC), a group of antimicrobials used to treat community-onset urinary tract infections in humans. However, the zoonotic potential of ESC-resistant E. coli from poultry and their role as extraintestinal pathogens, including uropathogens, have been debated. The aim of this study was to characterize ESC-resistant E. coli isolated from domestically produced retail chicken meat regarding their population genetic structure, the presence of virulence-associated geno- and phenotypes as well as their carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes, in order to evaluate their uropathogenic potential.ResultsA collection of 141 ESC-resistant E. coli isolates from retail chicken in the Norwegian monitoring program for antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from food, feed and animals (NORM-VET) in 2012, 2014 and 2016 (n = 141) were whole genome sequenced and analyzed. The 141 isolates, all containing the beta-lactamase encoding gene blaCMY-2, were genetically diverse, grouping into 19 different sequence types (STs), and temporal variations in the distribution of STs were observed. Generally, a limited number of virulence-associated genes were identified in the isolates. Eighteen isolates were selected for further analysis of uropathogen-associated virulence traits including expression of type 1 fimbriae, motility, ability to form biofilm, serum resistance, adhesion- and invasion of eukaryotic cells and colicin production. These isolates demonstrated a high diversity in virulence-associated phenotypes suggesting that the uropathogenicity of ESC-resistant E. coli from chicken meat is correspondingly highly variable. For some isolates, there was a discrepancy between the presence of virulence-associated genes and corresponding expected phenotype, suggesting that mutations or regulatory mechanisms could influence their pathogenic potential.ConclusionOur results indicate that the ESC-resistant E. coli from chicken meat have a low uropathogenic potential to humans, which is important knowledge for improvement of future risk assessments of AMR in the food chains.

Project description:Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and molecular characterization of extended-spectrum ?-lactamases (ESBL), plasmid-mediated AmpC ?-lactamase (pAmpC) and carbapenemases as well as plasmid-mediated quinolone-resistant (PMQR) among extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant (ESC-R) Escherichia coli from dogs in Shaanxi province in China. Methods: A total of 40 ESC-R Escherichia coli selected from 165 Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) isolated from dogs were screened and characterized for the genes encoding for the ESBLs, pAmpC, carbapenemases and PMQR genes by PCR and sequencing. Phylogenetic groups, virulence gene profiles and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to investigate the genetic background of the ESC-R E. coli isolates. Results: Among 40 ESC-R E. coli, the predominant ?-lactamase gene was blaCTX-Ms (n = 35), and followed by blaTEM-1 (n = 31), blaSHV-12 (n = 14), blaOXA-48 (n = 8), blaTEM-30 (n = 4), blaCMY-2 (n = 3) and blaDHA-1 (n = 2). The most common specific blaCTX-M gene subtype was blaCTX-M-15 (n = 31), and followed by blaCTX-M-123 (n = 14), blaCTX-M-1 (n = 10), blaCTX-M-14 (n = 10) and blaCTX-M-9 (n = 7). PMQR genes were detected in 32 (80%) isolates, and the predominant PMQR gene was aac(6')-Ib-cr (n = 26), followed by qnrS (n = 12), qnrD (n = 9), qnrB (n = 8), qepA (n = 4), and all PMQR genes were detected in co-existence with ?-lactamase genes. traT (n = 34) and fimH (n = 32) were the most prevalent virulence genes, and virulence genes fimH, iutA, fyuA, malX, iha, and sat were more prevalent in phylogenetic group B2. The 40 ESC-R isolates analyzed were assigned to 22 sequence types (STs), and the clonal lineages ST131 (n = 10) and ST10 (n = 9) were the predominant STs. Conclusion: High prevalence of ?-lantamases and PMQR genes were detected among ESC-R E. coli from companion animals. This is also the first description of the co-existence of six ?-lantamase genes and five PMQR genes in one E. coli isolate. Moreover, 10 ST131 clones harboring CTX-M-15 were detected.

Project description:Escherichia coli strains resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) are widely distributed in Norwegian broiler production, and the majority harbor transferable IncK or IncI1 plasmids carrying blaCMY-2 Persistent occurrence in broiler farms may occur through the survival of ESC-resistant E. coli strains in the farm environment, or by transfer and maintenance of resistance plasmids within a population of environmental bacteria with high survival abilities. The aim of this study was to determine the transferability of two successful blaCMY-2-carrying plasmids belonging to the incompatibility groups IncK and IncI1 into E. coli and Serratia species recipients. Initially, conjugative plasmid transfer from two E. coli donors to potential recipients was tested in an agar assay. Conjugation was further investigated for selected mating pairs in surface and planktonic assays at temperatures from 12°C to 37°C. Transfer of plasmids was observed on agar, in broth, and in biofilm at temperatures down to 25°C. The IncK plasmid was able to transfer into Serratia marcescens, and transconjugants were able to act as secondary plasmid donors to different E. coli and Serratia species recipients. All transconjugants displayed an AmpC phenotype corresponding to the acquisition of blaCMY-2 In summary, the results indicate that the IncK plasmid may transfer between E. coli and Serratia spp. under conditions relevant for broiler production.IMPORTANCE Certain blaCMY-2-carrying plasmids are successful and disseminated in European broiler production. Traditionally, plasmid transferability has been studied under conditions that are optimal for bacterial growth. Plasmid transfer has previously been reported between E. coli bacteria in biofilms at 37°C and in broth at temperatures ranging from 8 to 37°C. However, intergenus transfer of blaCMY-2-carrying plasmids from E. coli to environmental bacteria in the food-processing chain has not been previously studied. We demonstrate that blaCMY-2-carrying plasmids are capable of conjugative transfer between different poultry-associated bacterial genera under conditions relevant for broiler production. Transfer to Serratia spp. and to hosts with good biofilm-forming abilities and with the potential to act as secondary plasmid donors to new hosts might contribute to the persistence of these resistance plasmids. These results contribute to increased knowledge of factors affecting the persistence of ESC resistance in broiler production and can provide a basis for improvement of routines and preventive measures.

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Conjugative Plasmid-Mediated Extended Spectrum Cephalosporin Resistance in Genetically Diverse Escherichia coli from a Chicken Slaughterhouse.

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