Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a pressing public health issue due to limited therapeutic options to treat such infections. CREs have been predominantly isolated from humans and environmental samples and they are rarely reported among companion animals. In this study we report on the isolation and plasmid characterization of carbapenemase (IMP-4) producing Salmonella enterica Typhimurium from a companion animal. Carbapenemase-producing S. enterica Typhimurium carrying blaIMP-4 was identified from a systemically unwell (index) cat and three additional cats at an animal shelter. All isolates were identical and belonged to ST19. Genome sequencing revealed the acquisition of a multidrug-resistant IncHI2 plasmid (pIMP4-SEM1) that encoded resistance to nine antimicrobial classes including carbapenems and carried the blaIMP-4-qacG-aacA4-catB3 cassette array. The plasmid also encoded resistance to arsenic (MIC-150 mM). Comparative analysis revealed that the plasmid pIMP4-SEM1 showed greatest similarity to two blaIMP-8 carrying IncHI2 plasmids from Enterobacter spp. isolated from humans in China. This is the first report of CRE carrying a blaIMP-4 gene causing a clinical infection in a companion animal, with presumed nosocomial spread. This study illustrates the broader community risk entailed in escalating CRE transmission within a zoonotic species such as Salmonella, and in a cycle that encompasses humans, animals and the environment.
Highlights
Clinical infections attributed to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a pressing public health issue due to limited therapeutic options
In this study we report the first case of clinical infection and carriage of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Australian companion animals and the first detection of blaIMP-4 positive Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium from Australia
This study reports on the genomic characteristics of an IncHI2 plasmid from Australia that carries the blaIMP-4qacG-aacA4-catB3 cassette array, with demonstrated co-carriage of heavy metal resistance
Summary
Clinical infections attributed to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a pressing public health issue due to limited therapeutic options. Far in Australia, IMP-4 producing Gram-negative bacteria have been reported predominantly in hospital settings, from both clinical and environmental sources[5,12,13,14,15,16,17]. The blaIMP-4 gene is considered endemic to Australia and is often carried in a blaIMP-4-qacG-aacA4-catB3 cassette array[13,14,15,16,17]. We have performed for the first time a complete characterization of an IncHI2 plasmid that carries a blaIMP-4-qacG-aacA4-catB3 cassette array and evaluated the heavy metal resistance associated with this plasmid
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