Macrolide resistance mechanisms and virulence factors in erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter species isolated from chicken and swine feces and carcasses.
Resistance to antimicrobials was measured in 73 isolates of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and 121 isolates of Campylobacter coli (C. coli) from chicken and swine feces and carcasses in Korea. Both bacterial species showed the highest resistance to (fluoro) quinolones (ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid) out of the nine antimicrobials tested. Erythromycin resistance was much higher in C. coli (19.0%, 23/121) than in C. jejuni (6.8%, 5/73). The mutation in the 23S rRNA gene was primarily responsible for macrolide resistance in Campylobacter isolates. Several amino acid substitutions in the L4 and L22 ribosomal proteins may play a role in the mechanism of resistance, but the role requires further evaluation. A total of eight virulence genes were detected in 28 erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter isolates. All C. jejuni isolates carried more than four such genes, while C. coli isolates carried fewer than three such genes. The high rate of resistance highlights the need to employ more prudent use of critically important antimicrobials, such as fluoroquinolones and macrolides, in swine and poultry production, and to more carefully monitor antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter isolates in food animals.
Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeoksin 8-ro, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsanbuk-do, 39660, Republic of Korea.
Suk-Kyung
SK
Lim
Dong-Chan
DC
Moon
Myung Hwa
MH
Chae
Hae Ji
HJ
Kim
Hyang-Mi
HM
Nam
Su-Ran
SR
Kim
Gum-Chan
GC
Jang
Kichan
K
Lee
Suk-Chan
SC
Jung
Hee-Soo
HS
Lee
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017354:Point Mutation; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D037521:Virulence Factors; D004917:Erythromycin