title: Class 1 integrons in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical settings in Amazon region, Brazil.
abstract: A hundred and six Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical cases were screened using PCR for the presence of integrons and associated resistance gene cassettes. Forty-four isolates harboured class 1 integrons (41.5%), of which 29 isolates (66%) also carried gene cassettes. The aacA gene was most frequently found within class 1 integrons (69%), followed by blaOXA family genes (52%). From class 1 integron-positive strains, we detected a total of 15 isolates (34%) carrying no gene cassettes. Restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis of the integrons variable region revealed some identical structures, as well as distinct profiles indicating heterogeneity among these cassette regions. Multiresistance was observed in 71% of isolates, nevertheless no strong correlation was observed between integron presence and multiresistance. This is the first report showing class 1 integron prevalence and gene cassette content in P. aeruginosa isolates from clinical settings in the Brazilian Amazon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Avenida Brazil 4365, P.O. Box 926, CEP 21045-100, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Verônica V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Rosângela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cipriano
authors.forename: Ana C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D032023:Integrons; D010641:Phenotype; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification