Transmission of human-pet antibiotic resistance via aerosols in pet hospitals of Changchun
Dao Mi Zhu,
Ya Song Yan,
Hao Wang,
Yue Zhong,
Inam,
Yun Hang Gao,
Gong Mei Li,
Guo Dong Mu,
Hui Feng Dong,
Yuan Li,
Ding Kuo Liu,
Hong Xia Ma,
Ling Cong Kong
Affiliations
Dao Mi Zhu
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Ya Song Yan
The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Hao Wang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Yue Zhong
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Inam
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Yun Hang Gao
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Gong Mei Li
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China
Guo Dong Mu
Jilin Provincial Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Jilin Animal Husbandry Building, Xi'an Road No. 4510, Changchun, PR China
Hui Feng Dong
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biological Feed Additive Enterprise, S&E Burgeoning Biotechnology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd, No.27, Shengda Second Branch Road, Wangwenzhuang Industrial Park, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300383, PR China
Yuan Li
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biological Feed Additive Enterprise, S&E Burgeoning Biotechnology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd, No.27, Shengda Second Branch Road, Wangwenzhuang Industrial Park, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300383, PR China
Ding Kuo Liu
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biological Feed Additive Enterprise, S&E Burgeoning Biotechnology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd, No.27, Shengda Second Branch Road, Wangwenzhuang Industrial Park, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300383, PR China
Hong Xia Ma
The Engineering Research Center of Bioreactor and Drug Development, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China; Corresponding authors at: The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China.
Ling Cong Kong
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China; The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China; Corresponding authors at: The Key Laboratory of New Veterinary Drug Research and Development of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun 130118, PR China.
In recent years, aerosols have been recognized as a prominent medium for the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes. Among these, particles with a particle size of 2 μm (PM2.5) can directly penetrate the alveoli. However, the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes in aerosols from pet hospitals and the potential risks posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in these aerosols to humans and animals need to be investigated. In this study, cefotaxime-resistant bacteria were collected from 5 representative pet hospitals in Changchun using a Six-Stage Andersen Cascade Impactor. The distribution of bacteria in each stage was analyzed, and bacteria from stage 5 and 6 were isolated and identified. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of isolates against 12 antimicrobials were determined using broth microdilution method. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction was employed to detect resistance genes and mobile genetic elements that could facilitate resistance spread. The results indicated that ARBs were enriched in stage 5 (1.1–2.1 μm) and stage 3 (3.3–4.7 μm) of the sampler. A total of 159 isolates were collected from stage 5 and 6. Among these isolates, the genera Enterococcus spp. (51%), Staphylococcus spp. (19%), and Bacillus spp. (14%) were the most prevalent. The isolates exhibited the highest resistance to tetracycline and the lowest resistance to cefquinome. Furthermore, 56 (73%) isolates were multidrug-resistant. Quantitative PCR revealed the expression of 165 genes in these isolates, with mobile genetic elements showing the highest expression levels. In conclusion, PM2.5 from pet hospitals harbor a significant number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and carry mobile genetic elements, posing a potential risk for alveolar infections and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.
