Isolation of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica)

Tetsuo Asai; Michiyo Sugiyama; Tsutomu Omatsu; Masato Yoshikawa; Toshifumi Minamoto

doi:10.1002/mbo3.1317

Isolation of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica)

Microbiologyopen. 2022 Oct;11(5):e1317. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.1317.

Authors

Tetsuo Asai¹, Michiyo Sugiyama¹, Tsutomu Omatsu², Masato Yoshikawa³, Toshifumi Minamoto^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
² Crisis Management Unit, Center for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Division of Environment Conservation, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Human Environmental Science, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern requiring a one-health approach. Given wild animals can harbor antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB), we investigated their presence in 11 fecal samples from wild animals using deoxycholate hydrogen sulfide lactose agar with or without cefotaxime (CTX, 1 mg/L). Thus, we isolated CTX-resistant Escherichia coli from two Japanese red fox fecal samples. One strain was O83:H42-ST1485-fimH58 CTX-M-55-producing E. coli carrying the genes aph(3″)-Ib, aph(3')-Ia, aph(6)-Id, mdf(A), sitABCD, sul2, tet(A), and tet(B), whereas the other was O25:H4-ST131-fimH30 CTX-M-14-producing E. coli carrying mdf(A) and sitABCD and showing fluoroquinolone resistance. Thus, the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers in wild foxes suggests a spillover of ARB from human activities to these wild animals.

Keywords: ESBL; antimicrobial resistance; fox; wildlife.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Escherichia coli Infections* / microbiology
Escherichia coli Infections* / veterinary
Escherichia coli* / genetics
Foxes
Humans
Japan
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
beta-Lactamases / genetics

Substances

beta-Lactamases
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors