Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of CTX-M-type-producing Escherichia coli from a wildlife zoo in China

Ziyue Zeng; Jie Yang; Jinrong Gu; Zhihong Liu; Jufang Hu; Xiangyong Li; Xiaojun Chen; Zhiliang Sun; Jiyun Li

doi:10.1002/vms3.773

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of CTX-M-type-producing Escherichia coli from a wildlife zoo in China

Vet Med Sci. 2022 May;8(3):1294-1299. doi: 10.1002/vms3.773. Epub 2022 Feb 19.

Authors

Ziyue Zeng^{1

2}, Jie Yang^{1

2}, Jinrong Gu^{1

2}, Zhihong Liu^{1

2}, Jufang Hu^{1

2}, Xiangyong Li³, Xiaojun Chen^{1

2}, Zhiliang Sun^{1

2}, Jiyun Li^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
³ Changsha Ecological Zoo, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Abstract

Background: Wildlife zoos provide the opportunity for children and adults to interact with animals, However, it's unknown that the risk of contact with animals, which carried zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum β-lactamases Escherichia coli (ESBLs-EC) from a wildlife zoo in China.

Methods: A total of 93 wildlife faecal samples were collected from a wildlife zoo. Agar dilution method was used to determine the resistant phenotype. Whole genomes sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were employed to evaluate the molecular typing and genetic relationships of ESBLs-EC.

Results: A total of 23 CTX-M-positive ESBLs-EC were isolated from swan (n = 14), squirrel monkey (n = 5), black hat hanging monkey (n = 2), gibbon monkey (n = 1) and phoenicopteridae (n = 1) respectively. All ESBLs-EC strains were resistant to cefotaxime, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but susceptible to colistin, tigecycline, meropenem and amikacin. By screening whole genome sequences, ESBLs-EC strains main carried bla_CTX-M-55 (34.8%, 8/23) and bla_CTX-M-14 (26.0%, 6/23), following by bla_CTX-M-27 (21.7%, 5/23), bla_CTX-M-15 (13.0%, 3/23) and bla_CTX-M-121 (4.3%, 1/23). ESBLs-EC strains mainly belonged to phylogroup A (60.9%, 14/23), and ST48, ST746 and ST616 (3 strains respectively, 13.0%) were major ST types. Core genome-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis suggested that strains from the swan, over the phylogenetic tree, have a closer genetic relationship with strains from other animals (black hat hanging monkey, gibbon monkey, phoenicopteridae and squirrel monkey).

Conclusions: CTX-M type ESBLs-EC can transmit between animals in wildlife zoos, which may be a risk of spread to animal keepers, veterinarians and visitors when contact with animals. Our study provides that the importance of hygiene measures to minimise the risk of transmission of ESBLs-EC to visitors in wildlife zoos.

Keywords: CTX-M; E. coli; ESBLs; wildlife; zoo.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Wild
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
China / epidemiology
Escherichia coli Infections* / epidemiology
Escherichia coli Infections* / microbiology
Escherichia coli Infections* / veterinary
Escherichia coli* / genetics
Phylogeny
Prevalence
beta-Lactamases / genetics

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
beta-Lactamases