title: First detection of CTX-M-1, CMY-2, and QnrB19 resistance mechanisms in fecal Escherichia coli isolates from healthy pets in Tunisia.
abstract: Our objective was to analyze the carriage rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and plasmidic AmpC β-lactamase (pAmpC)-producing Escherichia coli isolates in fecal samples of healthy pets (dogs and cats) and to characterize the recovered isolates for the presence of other resistance genes and integrons. Eighty fecal samples of healthy pets were inoculated in MacConkey agar plates supplemented with cefotaxime (2 μg/mL) for cefotaxime-resistant (CTX(R)) E. coli recovery. CTX(R) E. coli isolates were detected in 14 of the 80 fecal samples (17.5%) and the following β-lactamase genes (number of isolates) were detected: bla(CTX-M-1) (8), bla(CTX-M-1)+bla(TEM-1b) (3)(,) bla(CTX-M-1)+bla(TEM-1c) (1), bla(CTX-M-1)+bla(TEM-135) (1), and bla(CMY-2)+bla(TEM-1b) (1). The 14 E. coli were distributed into the phylogroups B1 (6 isolates), A (5), and D (3). The qnrB19 gene was detected in one CTX-M-1-producing strain of phylogroup D. Five isolates contained class 1 integrons with the following arrangements: dfrA17-aadA5 (2 isolates), dfrA1-aadA1 (1), and dfrA17-aadA5/ dfrA1-aadA1 (2 isolates). The virulence genes fimA and/or aer were detected in all CTX(R) strains. In this study, the pet population harbored β-lactamase and quinolone resistance genes of special interest in human health that potentially could be transmitted to humans in close contact with them.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis-El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rym Ben
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sallem
authors.forename: Haythem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gharsa
authors.forename: Karim Ben
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rojo-Bezares
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Estepa
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Porres-Osante
authors.forename: Ahlem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jouini
authors.forename: Naouel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klibi
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sáenz
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boudabous
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D057805:Pets; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C485384:Qnr protein, E coli; C103022:beta-lactamase CMY-2; C055184:beta-lactamase TEM-3; D001618:beta-Lactamases