title: Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from red foxes in Portugal.
abstract: The presence of broad-spectrum-cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates and the implicated mechanisms of resistance and virulence factor genes were investigated in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Portugal. Cefotaxime-resistant E. coli isolates were isolated from two of 52 fecal samples (4 %), being both ESBL producers. The β-lactamase genes found in the two isolates were bla(SHV-12) + bla(TEM-1b). The tet(A) and sul2 genes were also detected in these isolates, together with the non-classical class 1 integron (intI1-dfrA12-orfF-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1-qacH-IS440-sul3) with the PcH1 promoter. The two isolates belonged to the phylogroup A. Amino acid changes in GyrA (S83L + D87G) and ParC (S80I) proteins were identified in our study. Concerning MLST typing, both isolates were assigned to ST1086, never found before in wild animals, and they presented closely related PFGE patterns. This study reveals the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, in a wild ecosystem, which could be disseminated through the environment to other niches.
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: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radhouani
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Igrejas
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Estepa
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sargo
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; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D018550:Cephalosporin Resistance; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005589:Foxes / Q000382:microbiology*; D032023:Integrons; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D010802:Phylogeny; D011174:Portugal; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D001618:beta-Lactamases