Whole-genome analyses of extended-spectrum or AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from companion dogs in Japan

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 5;16(2):e0246482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246482. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The emergence and global spread of extended-spectrum or AmpC β-lactamase (ESBL/AmpC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in companion animals have led to the hypothesis that companion animals might be reservoirs for cross-species transmission because of their close contact with humans. However, current knowledge in this field is limited; therefore, the role of companion animals in cross-species transmission remains to be elucidated. Herein, we studied ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli in particular, isolated from extraintestinal sites and feces of companion dogs. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that (i) extraintestinal E. coli isolates were most closely related to those isolated from feces from the same dog, (ii) chromosomal sequences in the ST131/C1-M27 clade isolated from companion dogs were highly similar to those in the ST131/C1-M27 clade of human origin, (iii) certain plasmids, such as IncFII/pMLST F1:A2:B20/blaCTX-M-27, IncI1/pMLST16/blaCTX-M-15, or IncI1/blaCMY-2 from dog-derived E. coli isolates, shared high homology with those from several human-derived Enterobacteriaceae, (iv) chromosomal blaCTX-M-14 was identified in the ST38 isolate from a companion dog, and (v) eight out of 14 tested ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli isolates (i.e., ST131, ST68, ST405, and ST998) belonged to the human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) group. All of the bla-coding plasmids that were sequenced genome-wide were capable of horizontal transfer. These results suggest that companion dogs can spread ESBL/AmpC-producing ExPEC via their feces. Furthermore, at least some ESBL/AmpC-producing ExPECs and bla-coding plasmids can be transmitted between humans and companion dogs. Thus, companion dogs can act as an important reservoir for ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli in the community.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Dogs
  • Enterobacteriaceae / drug effects
  • Enterobacteriaceae / enzymology
  • Enterobacteriaceae / pathogenicity
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasmids / genetics*
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • AmpC beta-lactamases
  • beta-Lactamases