Characteristics of the multiple replicon plasmid IncX1-X1 in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli from Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica)

Abstract

Potential zoonotic pathogens may be transmitted from wildlife to humans through the illegal wild meat trade, which has become a pressing issue. However, research on the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) intestinal bacteria is limited. Here, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli M172-1 (ST354) isolated from Malayan pangolin feces in 2019 was found to be resistant to 13 antibiotics. BGWAS analysis revealed 4 plasmids, namely, pM172-1.1, pM172-1.2, pM172-1.3, and pM172-1.4, in the isolate. The pM172-1.2, pM172-1.3, and pM172-1.4 plasmids carried ARGs, namely, IncHI2-HI2A, IncX1-X1, and IncX1, respectively. pM172-1.3 and pM172-1.4 contained intact IntI1 integrons (Is26/IntI1/arr2/cmlA5/bla_OXA-10 /ant(3″)-IIA/dfrA14/Is26). Notably, pM172-1.3 resulted from the fusion of 2 pM172-1.4 copies and carried many more ARGs. In addition to pM172-1.3 from the same host, other drug-resistant bacteria (E. coli M159-1 (ST48), E. coli S171-1 (ST206), and Klebsiella pneumoniae S174-1 (ST2354)) in the same Malayan pangolin fecal samples also carried 3 plasmids with 100% gene coverage of pM172-1.4 and 99.98% identity. Therefore, ARGs in IncX1 might spread in the intestinal flora of Malayan pangolin and between species via the illegal food chain, posing a potential threat to public health and safety.

Keywords: ARG; Manis javanica; multiple-replicon plasmid IncX1-X1; plasmid IncX1.