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Zaidi SEZ, Zaheer R, Zovoilis A, McAllister TA. Enterococci as a One Health indicator of antimicrobial resistance. Can J Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38696839 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2024-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The rapid increase of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in humans and livestock is concerning. Antimicrobials are essential for the treatment of disease in modern day medicine, and their misuse in humans and food animals has contributed to an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Globally, antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a One Health problem affecting humans, animals, and environment. Enterococcal species are Gram-positive bacteria that are widely distributed in nature. Their occurrence, prevalence, and persistence across the One Health continuum make them an ideal candidate to study antimicrobial resistance from a One Health perspective. The objective of this review was to summarize the role of enterococci as an indicator of antimicrobial resistance across One Health sectors. We also briefly address the prevalence of enterococci in human, animal, and environmental settings. In addition, a 16S RNA gene-based phylogenetic tree was constructed to visualize the evolutionary relationship among enterococcal species and whether they segregate based on host environment. We also review the genomic basis of antimicrobial resistance in enterococcal species across the One Health continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sani-E-Zehra Zaidi
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
- University of Manitoba, Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, 745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg
| | - Rahat Zaheer
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Athanasios Zovoilis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
- University of Manitoba, Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, 745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
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2
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Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus dispar CoE-457-22, Isolated from Traditionally Produced Montenegrin Dry Sausage. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0103822. [PMID: 36515530 PMCID: PMC9872704 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01038-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus dispar was isolated for the first time from synovial fluid and stool cultures and described as a new species in 1991. Here, we report the genome of E. dispar CoE-457-22, which was obtained from traditionally produced Montenegrin dry sausage (sudzuk).
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3
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Smith HG, Bean DC, Clarke RH, Loyn R, Larkins JA, Hassell C, Greenhill AR. Presence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli, Enterococcusspp. and Salmonellasp. in 12 species of Australian shorebirds and terns. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:615-624. [PMID: 35460193 PMCID: PMC9544147 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is an ongoing threat to both human and animal health. Migratory birds are a potential vector for the spread of novel pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. To date, there has been no comprehensive study investigating the presence of antibiotic resistance (AMR) in the bacteria of Australian shorebirds or terns. In the current study, 1022 individual birds representing 12 species were sampled across three states of Australia (Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia) and tested for the presence of phenotypically resistant strains of three bacteria with potential to be zoonotic pathogens; Escherichia coli, Enterococcusspp., and Salmonellasp. In total, 206 E. coli, 266 Enterococcusspp., and 20 Salmonellasp. isolates were recovered, with AMR detected in 42% of E. coli, 85% of Enterococcusspp., and 10% of Salmonellasp. Phenotypic resistance was commonly detected to erythromycin (79% of Enterococcusspp.), ciprofloxacin (31% of Enterococcusspp.) and streptomycin (21% of E. coli). Resident birds were more likely to carry AMR bacteria than migratory birds (p ≤ .001). Bacteria isolated from shorebirds and terns are commonly resistant to at least one antibiotic, suggesting that wild bird populations serve as a potential reservoir and vector for AMR bacteria. However, globally emerging phenotypes of multidrug‐resistant bacteria were not detected in Australian shorebirds. This study provides baseline data of the carriage of AMR bacteria in Australian shorebirds and terns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah G Smith
- Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University, Churchill, Australia
| | - David C Bean
- Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University, Churchill, Australia
| | - Rohan H Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard Loyn
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.,Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jo-Ann Larkins
- Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University, Churchill, Australia.,School of Science, Engineering and Information Technology, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chris Hassell
- Global Flyway Network, Broome, Western Australia, Australia.,Australasian Wader Studies Group, Broome, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew R Greenhill
- Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University, Churchill, Australia
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4
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Abbassi MS, Badi S, Lengliz S, Mansouri R, Hammami S, Hynds P. Hiding in plain sight - Wildlife as a neglected reservoir and pathway for the spread of antimicrobial resistance: A narrative review. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6568898. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Antimicrobial resistance represents a global health problem, with infections due to pathogenic antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB) predicted to be the most frequent cause of human mortality by 2050. The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance has spread to and across all ecological niches, and particularly in livestock used for food production with antimicrobials consumed in high volumes. Similarly, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are recognized as significant “hotspots” of ARB and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs); however, over the past decade, new and previously overlooked ecological niches are emerging as hidden reservoirs of ARB/ARGs. Increasingly extensive and intensive industrial activities, degradation of natural environments, burgeoning food requirements, urbanization, and global climatic change have all dramatically affected the evolution and proliferation of ARB/ARGs, which now stand at extremely concerning ecological levels. While antimicrobial resistant bacteria and genes as they originate and emanate from livestock and human hosts have been extensively studied over the past 30 years, numerous ecological niches have received considerably less attention. In the current descriptive review, the authors have sought to highlight the importance of wildlife as sources/reservoirs, pathways and receptors of ARB/ARGs in the environment, thus paving the way for future primary research in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Salah Abbassi
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut de la recherche vétérinaire de Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, LR99ES09 Laboratoire de recherche «Résistance aux antimicrobiens» 1007, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Souhir Badi
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut de la recherche vétérinaire de Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sana Lengliz
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut de la recherche vétérinaire de Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Riadh Mansouri
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut de la recherche vétérinaire de Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Salah Hammami
- Université Manouba, IRESA, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet 2020, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Paul Hynds
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI), Technological University Dublin, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
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5
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Hubálek Z. Pathogenic microorganisms associated with gulls and terns (Laridae). JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.21009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zdeněk Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail:
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Zeballos-Gross D, Rojas-Sereno Z, Salgado-Caxito M, Poeta P, Torres C, Benavides JA. The Role of Gulls as Reservoirs of Antibiotic Resistance in Aquatic Environments: A Scoping Review. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:703886. [PMID: 34367104 PMCID: PMC8343230 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.703886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of wildlife with long-range dispersal such as gulls in the global dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across natural and anthropogenic aquatic environments remains poorly understood. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been detected in resident and migratory gulls worldwide for more than a decade, suggesting gulls as either sentinels of AMR pollution from anthropogenic sources or independent reservoirs that could maintain and disperse AMR across aquatic environments. However, confirming either of these roles remains challenging and incomplete. In this review, we present current knowledge on the geographic regions where AMR has been detected in gulls, the molecular characterization of resistance genes, and the evidence supporting the capacity of gulls to disperse AMR across regions or countries. We identify several limitations of current research to assess the role of gulls in the spread of AMR including most studies not identifying the source of AMR, few studies comparing bacteria isolated in gulls with other wild or domestic species, and almost no study performing longitudinal sampling over a large period of time to assess the maintenance and dispersion of AMR by gulls within and across regions. We suggest future research required to confirm the role of gulls in the global dispersion of AMR including the standardization of sampling protocols, longitudinal sampling using advanced satellite tracking, and whole-genome sequencing typing. Finally, we discuss the public health implications of the spread of AMR by gulls and potential solutions to limit its spread in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danae Zeballos-Gross
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zulma Rojas-Sereno
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marília Salgado-Caxito
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile.,Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Patricia Poeta
- Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance Team (MicroART), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV-REQUIMTE), University NOVA of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Carmen Torres
- Área Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Julio A Benavides
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
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7
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Korajkic A, McMinn BR, Staley ZR, Ahmed W, Harwood VJ. Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus Species in Marine Habitats: A Review. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH 2020; 19:92-100. [PMID: 33134649 PMCID: PMC7592714 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus (ARE) are among leading causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. Enterococcus spp. are ubiquitous in sewage, which can contaminate surface waters via many pathways, providing a route of exposure for humans. This review focuses on ARE in marine and estuarine habitats, including marine animals. Phylogenetic confirmation of the genus Enterococcus and intermediate or full resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics were inclusion criteria. The proportion of resistant isolates varied greatly among antibiotics, for example, 24.2% for ampicillin and 2.4% for vancomycin. The water column contained the highest proportion of ARE observations (18.8%), followed by animal feces and tissues (14.8%), sediment (9.4%), and sand (2.0%). The proportion of multidrug-resistant isolates was the greatest in animal tissue and fecal samples, followed by water and sediments. This review indicates that clinically relevant ARE are present in marine/estuarine habitats and that animals may be important reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asja Korajkic
- United Stated Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian R. McMinn
- United Stated Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Warish Ahmed
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia
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8
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Young S, Rohr JR, Harwood VJ. Vancomycin resistance plasmids affect persistence of Enterococcus faecium in water. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 166:115069. [PMID: 31536887 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) cause 20,000 infections annually in the United States, most of which are nosocomial. Recent findings of VRE in sewage-contaminated surface waters demonstrate an alternate route of human exposure, and a possible setting for horizontal gene exchange facilitated by plasmids and other mobile genetic elements. Maintenance of antibiotic resistance genes and proteins may, however, present a fitness cost in the absence of selective pressure, particularly in habitats such as environmental waters that are not optimal for gut-associated bacteria. Nutrient levels, which are transiently elevated following sewage spills, may also affect survival. We tested the hypotheses that nutrients and/or plasmids conferring vancomycin resistance affect Enterococcus faecium survival in river water by measuring decay of strains that differed only by their plasmid, under natural and augmented nutrient conditions. In natural river water, decay rate (log10 reduction) correlated directly with plasmid size; however, plasmid presence and size had no effect on decay rate when nutrients levels were augmented. Under natural nutrient levels, the vancomycin-resistant strain with the largest plasmid (200 kb) decayed significantly more rapidly than the plasmid-less, susceptible parent strain, in contrast to similar decay rates among strains under augmented nutrient conditions. This work is among the first to show that plasmids conferring antibiotic resistance affect fitness of Enterococcus species in secondary habitats such as surface water. The nutrient-dependent nature of the fitness cost suggests that conveyance of VRE to environmental waters in nutrient-rich sewage may prolong survival of these pathogens, providing greater opportunity for host infection and/or horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jason R Rohr
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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9
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León-Sampedro R, Del Campo R, Rodriguez-Baños M, Lanza VF, Pozuelo MJ, Francés-Cuesta C, Tedim AP, Freitas AR, Novais C, Peixe L, Willems RJL, Corander J, González Candelas F, Baquero F, Coque TM. Phylogenomics of Enterococcus faecalis from wild birds: new insights into host-associated differences in core and accessory genomes of the species. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:3046-3062. [PMID: 31162871 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Wild birds have been suggested to be reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant and/or pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis (Efs) strains, but the scarcity of studies and available sequences limit our understanding of the population structure of the species in these hosts. Here, we analysed the clonal and plasmid diversity of 97 Efs isolates from wild migratory birds. We found a high diversity, with most sequence types (STs) being firstly described here, while others were found in other hosts including some predominant in poultry. We found that pheromone-responsive plasmids predominate in wild bird Efs while 35% of the isolates entirely lack plasmids. Then, to better understand the ecology of the species, the whole genome of fivestrains with known STs (ST82, ST170, ST16 and ST55) were sequenced and compared with all the Efs genomes available in public databases. Using several methods to analyse core and accessory genomes (AccNET, PLACNET, hierBAPS and PANINI), we detected differences in the accessory genome of some lineages (e.g. ST82) demonstrating specific associations with birds. Conversely, the genomes of other Efs lineages exhibited divergence in core and accessory genomes, reflecting different adaptive trajectories in various hosts. This pangenome divergence, horizontal gene transfer events and occasional epidemic peaks could explain the population structure of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo León-Sampedro
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Del Campo
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI), Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Rodriguez-Baños
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Val F Lanza
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Pozuelo
- Department of Biology, Pharmacy Faculty, University San Pablo-CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Carlos Francés-Cuesta
- Infection and Public Health Unit, FISABIO/University of Valencia, Spain.,Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, I2SysBio, CSIC-University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana P Tedim
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana R Freitas
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Novais
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Peixe
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rob J L Willems
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jukka Corander
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fernando González Candelas
- Biomedical Research Networking Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain.,Infection and Public Health Unit, FISABIO/University of Valencia, Spain.,Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, I2SysBio, CSIC-University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Baquero
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain.,Antibiotic Resistance and Bacterial Virulence Unit Associated with the Superior Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa M Coque
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain.,Antibiotic Resistance and Bacterial Virulence Unit Associated with the Superior Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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10
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Ben Yahia H, Chairat S, Hamdi N, Gharsa H, Ben Sallem R, Ceballos S, Torres C, Ben Slama K. Antimicrobial resistance and genetic lineages of faecal enterococci of wild birds: Emergence of vanA and vanB2 harbouring Enterococcus faecalis. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2018; 52:936-941. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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11
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Oravcová V, Peixe L, Coque TM, Novais C, Francia MV, Literák I, Freitas AR. Wild corvid birds colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium of human origin harbor epidemic vanA plasmids. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 118:125-133. [PMID: 29870913 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The most prevalent type of acquired vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) is encoded by the vanA transposon Tn1546, mainly located on transferable plasmids. vanA plasmids have been characterized in VREfm from a variety of sources but not wild birds. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic context of VREfm strains recovered from wild corvid birds and to compare their plasmid and strain characteristics with human strains. To achieve that, 75 VREfm isolates, including strains from wild birds recovered during wide surveillance studies performed in Europe, Canada and the United States (2010-2013), and clinical and wastewater strains from Czech Republic, a region lacking data about vanA plasmids, were analysed. Their population structure, presence of major putative virulence markers and characterization of vanA transposons and plasmids were established. VREfm from wild birds were mainly associated with major human lineages (ST18 and ST78) circulating in hospitals worldwide and were enriched in putative virulence markers that are highly associated with clinical E. faecium from human infections. They also carried plasmids of the same families usually found in the clinical setting [RCR, small theta plasmids, RepA_N (pRUM/pLG1) and Inc18]. The clinically widespread IS1251-carrying Tn1546 type "F" was predominant and Tn1546-vanA was mainly located on pRUM/Axe-Txe (USA) and Inc18- or pLG1-like (Europe) plasmids. VREfm from hospitals and wastewaters carried Tn1546-vanA in different plasmid types including mosaic pRUM-Inc18 plasmids, not identified in wild birds. This is the first characterization of vanA plasmids obtained from wild birds. A similar plasmid pool seems to exist in different clonal E. faecium backgrounds of humans and wild birds. The isolation of VREfm strains from wild birds that belong to human E. faecium adapted lineages and carry virulence genes, Tn1546 and plasmid variants widespread in the clinical setting is of concern and highlight their role as potential drivers of the global dissemination of vancomycin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Oravcová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Luísa Peixe
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Teresa M Coque
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar km 9.1, 28034 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Unidad de Resistencia a Antibióticos y Virulencia Bacteriana asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Carla Novais
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria V Francia
- Microbiology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital e Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Av. Valdecilla, 25, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Ivan Literák
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic; CEITEC VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ana R Freitas
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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