Molecular epidemiology and transmission of rmtB-positive Escherichia coli among ducks and environment

Guihua Li; Xiaoshen Li; Jianxin Hu; Yu Pan; Zhenbao Ma; Lingxuan Zhang; Wenguang Xiong; Dongping Zeng; Zhenling Zeng

Poultry Science (May 2023)

Molecular epidemiology and transmission of rmtB-positive Escherichia coli among ducks and environment

Guihua Li,
Xiaoshen Li,
Jianxin Hu,
Yu Pan,
Zhenbao Ma,
Lingxuan Zhang,
Wenguang Xiong,
Dongping Zeng,
Zhenling Zeng

Affiliations

Guihua Li: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Xiaoshen Li: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Jianxin Hu: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Yu Pan: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Zhenbao Ma: Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Research Center of Guangdong Haid Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Lingxuan Zhang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Wenguang Xiong: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Dongping Zeng: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Zhenling Zeng: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Corresponding author:

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 102, no. 5
p. 102579

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the transmission and molecular epidemiological characteristics of the rmtB gene in Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains isolated from duck farms in Guangdong Province of China from 2018 to 2021. A total of 164 (19.4%, 164/844) rmtB-positive E. coli strains were recovered from feces, viscera, and environment. We performed antibiotic susceptibility tests, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and conjugation experiments. We obtained the genetic context of 46 rmtB-carrying E. coli isolates and constructed a phylogenetic tree via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatic analysis. The isolation rate of rmtB-carrying E. coli isolates in duck farms increased yearly from 2018 to 2020 but decreased in 2021. All rmtB-harboring E. coli strains were multidrug resistant (MDR), and 99.4% of the strains were resistant to more than 10 drugs. Surprisingly, duck- and environment-associated strains similarly showed high MDR. Conjugation experiments revealed that the rmtB gene horizontally cocarried blaCTX-M and blaTEM gene dissemination via IncFII plasmids. Insertion sequences IS26, ISCR1, and ISCR3 were closely associated with the spread of rmtB-harboring E. coli isolates. WGS analysis indicated that ST48 was the most prevalent sequence type. The results of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences revealed potential clonal transmission between ducks and the environment. Based on One Health principles, we need to strictly use veterinary antibiotics, monitor the distribution of MDR strains, and evaluate the impact of plasmid-mediated rmtB gene on human, animal, and environmental health.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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