title: Plasmids CarryingblaCMY -2/4inEscherichia colifrom Poultry, Poultry Meat, and Humans Belong to a Novel IncK Subgroup Designated IncK2.
abstract: TheblaCMY -2/4-carrying IncB/O/K-like plasmids of sevenEscherichia colistrains from poultry, poultry meat and human urine samples were examined using comparative analysis of whole plasmid sequences. The incompatibility group was determined by analysis of theincRNAI region and conjugation assays with strains containing the IncK and IncB/O reference plasmids. Strains were additionally characterized using MLST and MIC determination. The complete DNA sequences of all plasmids showed an average nucleotide identity of 91.3%. Plasmids were detected inE. colisequence type (ST) 131, ST38, ST420, ST1431, ST1564 and belonged to a new plasmid variant (IncK2) within the IncK and IncB/O groups. Notably, oneE. colifrom poultry meat and one from human contained the same plasmid. The presence of a common recently recognized IncK2 plasmid in diverseE. colifrom human urine isolates and poultry meat production suggests that the IncK2 plasmids originated from a common progenitor and have the capability to spread to genetically diverseE. coliin different reservoirs. This discovery is alarming and stresses the need of rapidly introducing strict hygiene measures throughout the food chain, limiting the spread of such plasmids in the human settings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of BernBern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Salome N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Seiffert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di SanitàRome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carattoli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sybille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwendener
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collaud
authors.affiliation: Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Endimiani
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perreten
keywords: ESBL; animals; antibiotic resistance; food; pAmpC