Genomic Characterization of a Plasmid-Free and Highly Drug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Indiana Isolate in China

The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana (S. Indiana) strains in China is commonly associated with the presence of one or more resistance plasmids harboring integrons pivotal in acquiring antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study aims to elucidate the genetic makeup of this plasmid-free, highly drug-resistant S. Indiana S1467 strain. Genomic sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencer and PacBio RS II System. Prodigal software predicted putative protein-coding sequences while BLASTP analysis was conducted. The S1467 genome comprises a circular 4,998,300 bp chromosome with an average GC content of 51.81%, encompassing 4709 open reading frames (ORFs). Fifty-four AMR genes were identified, conferring resistance across 16 AMR categories, aligning closely with the strain's antibiotic susceptibility profile. Genomic island prediction unveiled an approximately 51 kb genomic island housing a unique YeeVU toxin-antitoxin system (TAS), a rarity in Salmonella species. This suggests that the AMR gene cluster on the S1467 genomic island may stem from the integration of plasmids originating from other Enterobacteriaceae. This study contributes not only to the understanding of the genomic characteristics of a plasmid-free, highly drug-resistant S. Indiana strain but also sheds light on the intricate mechanisms underlying antimicrobial resistance. The implications of our findings extend to the broader context of horizontal gene transfer between bacterial species, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and research to address the evolving challenges posed by drug-resistant pathogens.

Quantitative Risk Assessment of Susceptible and Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Salmonella from Retail Pork in Chiang Mai Province in Northern Thailand

The adverse human health effects as a result of antimicrobial resistance have been recognized worldwide. Salmonella is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses while antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Salmonella has been isolated from foods of animal origin. The quantitative risk assessment (RA) as part of the guidelines for the risk analysis of foodborne antimicrobial resistance was issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission more than a decade ago. However, only two risk assessments reported the human health effects of AMR Salmonella in dry-cured pork sausage and pork mince. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the adverse health effects attributable to consuming retail pork contaminated with Salmonella using risk assessment models. The sampling frame covered pork at the fresh market (n = 100) and modern trade where pork is refrigerated (n = 50) in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand. The predictive microbiology models were used in the steps where data were lacking. Susceptible and quinolone-resistant (QR) Salmonella were determined by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the presence of AMR genes. The probability of mortality conditional to foodborne illness by susceptible Salmonella was modeled as the hazard characterization of susceptible and QR Salmonella. For QR Salmonella, the probabilistic prevalences from the fresh market and modern trade were 28.4 and 1.9%, respectively; the mean concentrations from the fresh market and modern trade were 346 and 0.02 colony forming units/g, respectively. The probability of illness (P_I) and probability of mortality given illness (P_MI) from QR Salmonella-contaminated pork at retails in Chiang Mai province were in the range of 2.2 × 10⁻⁸–3.1 × 10⁻⁴ and 3.9 × 10⁻¹⁰–5.4 × 10⁻⁶, respectively, while those from susceptible Salmonella contaminated-pork at retails were in the range 1.8 × 10⁻⁴–3.2 × 10⁻⁴ and 2.3 × 10⁻⁷–4.2 × 10⁻⁷, respectively. After 1000 iterations of Monte Carlo simulations of the risk assessment models, the annual mortality rates for QR salmonellosis simulated by the risk assessment models were in the range of 0–32, which is in line with the AMR adverse health effects previously reported. Therefore, the risk assessment models used in both exposure assessment and hazard characterization were applicable to evaluate the adverse health effects of AMR Salmonella spp. in Thailand.

Enrofloxacin—The Ruthless Killer of Eukaryotic Cells or the Last Hope in the Fight against Bacterial Infections?

Enrofloxacin is a compound that originates from a group of fluoroquinolones that is widely used in veterinary medicine as an antibacterial agent (this antibiotic is not approved for use as a drug in humans). It reveals strong antibiotic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, mainly due to the inhibition of bacterial gyrase and topoisomerase IV enzymatic actions. The high efficacy of this molecule has been demonstrated in the treatment of various animals on farms and other locations. However, the use of enrofloxacin causes severe adverse effects, including skeletal, reproductive, immune, and digestive disorders. In this review article, we present in detail and discuss the advantageous and disadvantageous properties of enrofloxacin, showing the benefits and risks of the use of this compound in veterinary medicine. Animal health and the environmental effects of this stable antibiotic (with half-life as long as 3–9 years in various natural environments) are analyzed, as are the interesting properties of this molecule that are expressed when present in complexes with metals. Recommendations for further research on enrofloxacin are also proposed.

Mutational Diversity in the Quinolone Resistance-Determining Regions of Type-II Topoisomerases of Salmonella Serovars

Quinolone resistance in bacterial pathogens has primarily been associated with mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of bacterial type-II topoisomerases, which are DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Depending on the position and type of the mutation (s) in the QRDRs, bacteria either become partially or completely resistant to quinolone. QRDR mutations have been identified and characterized in Salmonella enterica isolates from around the globe, particularly during the last decade, and efforts have been made to understand the propensity of different serovars to carry such mutations. Because there is currently no thorough analysis of the available literature on QRDR mutations in different Salmonella serovars, this review aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the mutational diversity in QRDRs of Salmonella serovars, summarizing the literature related to both typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars with a special emphasis on recent findings. This review will also discuss plasmid-mediated quinolone-resistance determinants with respect to their additive or synergistic contributions with QRDR mutations in imparting elevated quinolone resistance. Finally, the review will assess the contribution of membrane transporter-mediated quinolone efflux to quinolone resistance in strains carrying QRDR mutations. This information should be helpful to guide the routine surveillance of foodborne Salmonella serovars, especially with respect to their spread across countries, as well as to improve laboratory diagnosis of quinolone-resistant Salmonella strains.

Fluoroquinolone resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolated from slaughtered pigs in Thailand

Introduction. The emergence and spread of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) serovars resistant to fluoroquinolones and third- and higher-generation cephalosporins is a matter of great concern. Antimicrobial-resistant NTS is increasingly being discovered in humans, animals, food animals, food products, and agricultural environments. Pigs are considered a major reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella spp.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella spp. warrant further surveillance and characterization for a better understanding of the bacteria isolated from animals.Aim. NTS isolated from pork from slaughterhouses across Thailand were characterized in terms of their serovars; resistance to fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenems; and antimicrobial resistance genes.Methodology. A total of 387 NTS isolates, collected from slaughtered pigs in ten provinces across Thailand between 2014 and 2015, were characterized based on their serovars, antimicrobial resistance genes, and susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenems.Results. Among all NTS isolates, S. enterica serovar Rissen was predominant. Antimicrobial resistance was exhibited in 93/387 isolates (24 %). Although 24 (6.2 %) isolates were susceptible to all the tested antimicrobials, they were found to possess β-lactamase genes, such as bla _TEM, bla _SHV, or bla _CTX-M. Mobilized colistin-resistant genes (mcr) and resistance to colistin were not observed in any tested isolate. Carbapenem resistance was detected in ten isolates (10.7 %); however, bla _KPC, bla _NDM, bla _OXA-48-like, and bla _IMP were not present. Among the 93 antimicrobial-resistant isolates, 87.1 % showed fluoroquinolone resistance with the quinolone resistance gene (qnrS) combined with topoisomerase genes parC (T57S) or gyrA (S83E/Y and D124E/G) substitutions, or topoisomerase gene substitutions alone.Conclusion. We found high fluoroquinolone resistance rates among the NTS isolates from pigs from slaughterhouses. The fluoroquinolone resistance mechanism in NTS was associated with the combination of qnrS and substitutions in gyrA, parC, or both. To prevent the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant NTS between animals and humans, continuous monitoring, surveillance, and regulation of Salmonella in the pork supply chain are pivotal.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella Isolated From Dead-in-Shell Chicken Embryos in Shandong, China

The present study was designed to explore the Salmonella prevalence and antimicrobial resistance characteristics in the context of chick mortality at hatching in China. Between December 2015 and August 2017, 1,288 dead-in-shell chicken embryos were collected from four breeder chicken hatcheries in Tai'an, Rizhao, Jining, and Heze, China. Salmonella isolates were successfully recovered from 6.7% of these embryos (86/1,288) and were evaluated for serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility, Class 1 integron prevalence, antimicrobial resistance gene expression, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Salmonella Thompson (37.2%), and Salmonella Infantis (32.6%) were the two most prevalent isolates in these chicken embryos, and 66.3% of isolates exhibited robust ampicillin resistance, while 55.8% of isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance (MDR). The majority of isolates harbored the bla_TEM gene (74.4%), with the qnrS gene also being highly prevalent (50.0%). In contrast, just 27.9% of these isolates carried Class 1 integrons. These 86 isolates were separated into four sequence types (STs), whereby ST26 (32.2%) was the most prevalent. Overall, these results suggested that Salmonella infections may be an important cause of chicken embryo mortality in China, and that efforts to support the appropriate use of antibiotics in managing poultry populations are essential.

CRISPR/Cas9/sgRNA-mediated targeted gene modification confirms the cause-effect relationship between gyrA mutation and quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli

Quinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics that have been used for decades in treating bacterial infections in humans and animals, and subsequently bacterial resistance to these agents has increased. While studies indicated the relationship between gyrA mutations and bacterial resistance to quinolones, CRISPR/Cas9 was used in this study to investigate causal role of gyrA mutation in the quinolone resistance. In this study, 818 clinical Escherichia coli isolates were analyzed for gyrA mutations and their resistance to quinolones. The CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to generate gyrA mutations in quinolone-susceptible E. coli ATCC 25922, and quinolone-resistant clinical E. coli. The antimicrobial resistance prevalence rate in E. coli against nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin was 77.1% (631/818), 51.1% (418/818) and 49.8% (407/818), respectively. The gyrA mutations were identified in nucleotide positions 248, 255, 259, 260, 261, 273 and 300, and mutations at positions 248 and 259 resulting in amino acid changes at positions 83 and 87 were associated with quinolone resistance. Double-site amino acid mutations increase resistance to quinolones. The gyrA mutations causing changes at amino acids 83 and 87 reversed the features of quinolone resistance in ATCC and clinical strains, verifying the causal role of gyrA mutation in the quinolone resistance of E. coli.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Nontyphoidal Salmonella

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is the most common foodborne bacterial pathogen in most countries. It is widely present in food animal species, and therefore blocking its transmission through the food supply is a prominent focus of food safety activities worldwide. Antibiotic resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella arises in large part because of antibiotic use in animal husbandry. Tracking resistance in Salmonella is required to design targeted interventions to contain or diminish resistance and refine use practices in production. Many countries have established systems to monitor antibiotic resistance in Salmonella and other bacteria, the earliest ones appearing the Europe and the US. In this chapter, we compare recent Salmonella antibiotic susceptibility data from Europe and the US. In addition, we summarize the state of known resistance genes that have been identified in the genus. The advent of routine whole genome sequencing has made it possible to conduct genomic surveillance of resistance based on DNA sequences alone. This points to a new model of surveillance in the future that will provide more definitive information on the sources of resistant Salmonella , the specific types of resistance genes involved, and information on how resistance spreads.

Overview of the development of quinolone resistance in Salmonella species in China, 2005-2016

Purpose

Several factors contribute to the complexity of quinolone resistance in Salmonella, including >2000 different Salmonella serotypes, a variety of hosts for Salmonella, and wide use of quinolones in human beings and animals. We thus aimed to obtain an overview of the development of quinolone resistance and relevant molecular mechanisms of such a resistance in Salmonella species.

Materials and methods

A total of 1,776 Salmonella isolates were collected in Ningbo, China, between 2005 and 2016. Antimicrobial susceptibility to quinolone and relevant genetic mechanisms in these isolates were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The ratio for ciprofloxacin (CIP) resistant:reduced CIP susceptible:CIP susceptible was 26:522:1,228. CIP resistance was found in nine of 51 serotypes: Derby, London, Kentucky, Indiana, Corvallis, Rissen, Hadar, Typhimurium, and Agona. Of 26 CIP-resistant isolates, all were concurrently resistant to ampicillin and 21 were also concurrently resistant to cefotaxime and produced extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). The minimal inhibitory concentration values were at three levels: 2–4 μg/mL (serotypes except for Kentucky and Indiana), 16 μg/mL (one Kentucky isolate), and >32 μg/mL (Indiana isolates). As with the three most common serotypes, Salmonella Typhi showed quickly increased prevalence of reduced CIP susceptibility in recent years, Salmonella Enteritidis remained at a high prevalence of reduced CIP susceptibility throughout the study period, and several isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium were resistant to CIP. Transferable plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance gene qnrB was only found in all CIP-resistant isolates. In contrast, gyrA mutations were often found in reduced CIP-susceptible isolates and were not necessarily found in all CIP-resistant isolates.

Conclusion

We conclude that in Salmonella, there exists a high prevalence of reduced CIP susceptibility and a low prevalence of CIP resistance, which focuses on several serotypes. Our study also demonstrates that, rather than gyrA mutations, qnrB is the most common indicator for CIP resistance.

Distribution of Salmonella Serovars along the Food Chain in Poland, 2010-2015

Introduction

Data collection on the Salmonella occurrence is crucial in effective implementation of different actions or control programmes aiming to protect consumers’ health and to reduce the level of Salmonella prevalence in farm animals. The goal was to describe Salmonella serovar distribution along the food chain in Poland during 2010–2015 and to identify their epidemiological importance.

Material and Methods

Slide agglutination according to White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme was used to identify Salmonella serovars of 6,928 isolates originating from animals, food, feeds, and fertilisers.

Results

In total, 160 Salmonella serovars were identified. Differences in serovar distribution were observed depending on animal species. Among isolates from hens, S. Enteritidis and S. Infantis were the most prevalent. Serovar pattern in turkeys differed from those in hens, with S. Kentucky, S. Newport, S. Saintpaul being the most prevalent. Monophasic S. Typhimurium was predominant in pigs. Serovars found in food reflected those observed among livestock animals. Nine out of the ten most prevalent serovars in animals and humans were also found in organic fertilisers.

Conclusion

Serotyping of large number of isolates from different sources is essential for insight on emerging serovars and trends of Salmonella occurrence. This may increase the value of epidemiological data and result in updating of Salmonella control programmes to target further epidemiologically important serovars in animals and better protection of consumers’ health.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella enterica Serovar Indiana in China (1984-2016)

Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana, first described in 1955, is generally regarded as having a low frequency worldwide with outbreaks of gastroenteritis and abortions described in North America and Europe. In China, S. Indiana was first reported in 1984 and in the subsequent 71 surveys in 35 cities/municipalities from 18 provinces, 70% of which were after 2012, S. Indiana has been shown to have become widely prevalent in people, animals, food and the environment around abattoirs and meat processing facilities. The organism is now one of the most common serovars found in livestock and raw meat in China with S. Indiana isolates having high levels of drug resistance, especially against tetracyclines, quinolones, folate pathway inhibitors, phenicols, penicillins, monobactams and nitrofurans. Further, S. Indiana isolates that are concurrently resistant to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone/cefotaxime have emerged. Studies have suggested the high levels of multidrug resistance of S. Indiana might be associated with the presence of class 1 integrons and plasmids. Unfortunately, information on the high prevalence of S. Indiana and its extensive drug resistance in China has largely escaped international recognition as it largely appears in local reports written in Chinese. To address this situation, we reviewed all the available local Chinese and international publications on the organism in China and report our findings in this review.