High abundance of the colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in chicken gut-bacteria in Bangladesh

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 14;10(1):17292. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74402-4.

Abstract

Colistin is considered a last-resort reserved drug for the treatment of critical human infections by Gram-negative bacteria. Phenotypic colistin-resistance is strongly associated with plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes. The mcr-bearing Enterobacteriaceae have been detected in many countries from environments, animals, and humans. This study investigated phenotypic colistin-resistance and the distribution of mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, and mcr-5 genes in chicken-gut bacteria in Bangladesh. Bacteria were isolated from poultry- and native-chicken droppings, and their susceptibilities to colistin were determined by agar dilution and E-test minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) measurements. Multiplex polymerase chain reactions detected mcr-1 to mcr-5 genes. Overall, 61.7% (92/149) of the isolates showed colistin resistance by agar dilution assessment (MIC > 2.0 μg/mL). The phenotypic resistance was observed considerably higher in poultry-chicken isolates (64.6%, 64/99) than in native-chicken isolates (56%, 28/50; p = 0.373). All the resistant isolates showed MIC levels between > 2 and > 128 μg/mL. The mcr-genes (mcr-1and mcr-2 combined) were detected more in poultry gut bacteria (36.4%) than native-chicken isolates (20%, p = 0.06). Despite bacteria sources, mcr-genes appeared to be significantly associated with phenotypic colistin-resistance phenomena (p < 0.001). Prior colistin usage led to a substantial increase in the proportion of bacteria with mcr-genes and phenotypic resistance (p < 0.001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bangladesh
  • Chickens / microbiology*
  • Colistin / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups)

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • MCR-1 protein, E coli
  • MCR-3 protein, E coli
  • MCR-4 protein, E coli
  • MCR-5 protein, E coli
  • Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups)
  • Colistin