Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology (Jun 2023)

Characteristics of Antibiotic-resistant E. coli Isolated from Perfume River in Hue City, Vietnam

  • Ngo Viet Quynh Tram,
  • Phung Thi Thu Thuy,
  • Nguyen Thi Dang Khoa,
  • Nguyen Thi Tuyen,
  • Pham Thi Hong Cam,
  • Ngo Thi Dieu Huong,
  • Ton That Canh Tri,
  • Nguyen Hoang Bach,
  • Bianca Paglietti

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.17.2.37
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 2
pp. 1076 – 1085

Abstract

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Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in aquatic environments is attracting increasing attention. However, the spread of ARB along Perfume River in Hue City is poorly understood. This study aimed to phenotypically and genotypically characterize β-lactam- and fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from this river. Water samples were collected from the urban, rural, agricultural, and less-affected areas in March 2020. E. coli susceptibility to seven commonly employed antibiotics was analyzed using the disk diffusion method, and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, TEM, SHV, and CTX-M, were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of E. coli revealed that the rate of amoxicillin resistance was the highest (60%). PCR assays and sequencing of 12 β-lactam-resistant E. coli isolates indicated the presence of blaTEM and blaCTX-M-15 in 58.3% and 16.7% of the isolates, respectively. Only one of four fluoroquinolon -resistant E. coli isolates harbored the qnrS, while qnrA or qnrB genes were not detected. These findings suggest that this water may be an essential source of transmissible ARGs in Hue City, which may have a detrimental impact on the people living in this area.

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