title: Iberian wolf as a reservoir of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli of the TEM, SHV, and CTX-M groups.
abstract: The intensive use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine, associated with mechanisms of bacterial genetic transfer, caused a selective pressure that contributed to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in different bacteria groups and throughout different ecosystems. Iberian wolf, due to his predatory and wild nature, may serve as an important indicator of environmental contamination with antimicrobial resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates within the fecal microbiota of Iberian wolf. Additionally, the identification of other associated resistance genes, phylogenetic groups, and the detection of virulence determinants were also focused on in this study. From 2008 to 2009, 237 fecal samples from Iberian wolf were collected in Portugal. E. coli isolates with TEM-52, SHV-12, CTX-M-1, and CTX-M-14-type ESBLs were detected in 13 of these samples (5.5%). This study reveals the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, in a wild ecosystem, which could be disseminated through the environment. Moreover, the presence of resistant genes in integrons and the existence of virulence determinants were shown. The association between antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants should be monitored, as it constitutes a serious public health problem.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering/Center of Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Igrejas
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radhouani
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Estepa
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrucci-Fonseca
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poeta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D032023:Integrons; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D011174:Portugal; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D019596:Wolves / Q000382:microbiology*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D001618:beta-Lactamases