The resistance patterns and molecular characteristics of ESBL/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from captive panda ecosystem in China

Abstract

Escherichia coli (E. coli) plays an important ecological role, and is a useful bioindicator to recognize the evolution of resistance in human, animal and environment. Recently, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producing E.coli has posed a threat to public health. Generally, captive healthy giant pandas are not exposed to antibiotics; however, they still acquire antimicrobial resistant bacteria. In order to understand whether there is an exchange of resistance genes within the ecosystems of captive giant pandas, this study explored resistance characteristics of 330 commensal E. coli isolates from feces of giant pandas, the surroundings, and breeders. Isolates from different sources showed similar resistance phenotype, and ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates showed more profound resistance to antibiotics than non-ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates (P<0.05). Furthermore, the occurrence of broad-spectrum β-lactamase related resistance genes and colistin resistance genes was detected, and isolates phylogenetic typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were applied in this study. Seven different β-lactamase resistance genes (bla_CTX-M-55, bla_CTX-M-15, bla_CTX-M-27, bla_CTX-M-65, bla_TEM-1, bla_OXA-1 and bla_CMY) and mcr-1 were found in 68 ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates. bla_CTX-M-55 (48.53 %) was found the most predominant resistance genes, followed by bla_TEM-1 (19.12 %) and bla_CTX-M-27 (16.18 %). Nonetheless, bla_CTX-M-55 was commonly detected in the isolates from giant pandas (63.16 %), the surroundings (43.48 %), and breeders (33.33 %). However, there were no carbapenemase genes detected in this study. mcr-1 was harbored in only one isolate from giant panda. Forty-five tansconjugants were successfully obtained in the conjugation experiments. The presence of antimicrobial resistance and related resistance genes tested were observed in the transconjugants. The results indicated that 52.63 % of the isolates from giant panda 73.91 % of the isolates from surroundings, and 100 % of the isolates from breeders were phylogroup A. Total of 27 sequence types (ST) were recognized from the isolate by MLST and found that ST48 (19/68; 27.94 %) was the predominant ST type, especially in the isolates from giant pandas and the surroundings. In conclusion, commensal ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli becomes a reservoir of ESBL resistance genes, which is a potential threaten to health of giant pandas. The interaction between giant pandas, surroundings and breeders contribute to development of resistant phenotypes and genotypes which might transfer across species or the surroundings easily; hence, strict monitoring based on a "One Health" approach is recommended.

Keywords: AmpC; Commensal Escherichia coli; ESBL; Giant panda; Molecular typing; Resistance genes.