The presence of colistin resistance gene mcr-1 and -3 in ESBL producing Escherichia coli isolated from food in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2018 Jun 1;365(11). doi: 10.1093/femsle/fny100.

Abstract

Colistin is indicated for the treatment of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections. However, the spread of colistin-resistant bacteria harbouring an mcr gene has become a serious concern. This study investigated local foods in Vietnam for contamination with colistin-resistant bacteria. A total of 261 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and AmpC-producing Escherichia coli isolates from 330 meat and seafood products were analysed for colistin susceptibility and the presence of mcr genes. Approximately, 24% (62/261) of ESBL- or AmpC-producing E. coli isolates showed colistin resistance; 97% (60/62) of colistin-resistant isolates harboured mcr-1, whereas 3% (2/62) harboured mcr-3. As the result of plasmid analysis of two strains, both plasmids harbouring mcr-3 revealed that plasmid replicon type was IncFII. Sequencing analysis indicated that an insertion sequence was present near mcr-3, suggesting that IncFII plasmids harbouring mcr-3 could be transferred to other bacterial species by horizontal transfer of the plasmid or transfer with some insertion sequence. In conclusion, ESBL-producing E. coli and AmpC-producing E. coli have acquired colistin resistance because 24% of such isolates show colistin resistance and 3% of the colistin-resistant strains harbour mcr-3. We reported the present of the mcr-3-carrying ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from pork in Vietnam.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cities
  • Colistin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics*
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Plasmids / analysis
  • Plasmids / classification
  • Prevalence
  • Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) / genetics*
  • Vietnam
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • MCR-1 protein, E coli
  • MCR-3 protein, E coli
  • Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups)
  • beta-Lactamases
  • Colistin