Abstract
The increased presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria in humans, animals, and their surrounding environments is of global concern. Currently there is limited information on ESBL presence in rural farming communities worldwide. We performed a cross-sectional study in Mwanza, Tanzania, involving 600 companion and domestic farm animals between August/September 2014. Rectal swab/cloaca specimens were processed to identify ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. We detected 130 (21.7%) animals carrying ESBL-producing bacteria, the highest carriage being among dogs and pigs [39.2% (51/130) and 33.1% (43/130), respectively]. The majority of isolates were Escherichia coli [93.3% (125/134)] and exotic breed type [OR (95%CI) = 2.372 (1.460–3.854), p-value < 0.001] was found to be a predictor of ESBL carriage among animals. Whole-genome sequences of 25 ESBL-producing E. coli were analyzed for phylogenetic relationships using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome comparisons. Fourteen different sequence types were detected of which ST617 (7/25), ST2852 (3/25), ST1303 (3/25) were the most abundant. All isolates harbored the blaCTX-M-15 allele, 22/25 carried strA and strB, 12/25 aac(6′)-lb-cr, and 11/25 qnrS1. Antibiotic resistance was associated with IncF, IncY, as well as non-typable plasmids. Eleven isolates carried pPGRT46-related plasmids, previously reported from isolates in Nigeria. Five isolates had plasmids exhibiting 85–99% homology to pCA28, previously detected in isolates from the US. Our findings indicate a pan-species distribution of ESBL-producing E. coli clonal groups in farming communities and provide evidence for plasmids harboring antibiotic resistances of regional and international impact.
Highlights
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are enzymes encoded on the chromosome or on plasmids, conferring resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, and monobactams (Bradford, 2001)
The present study indicates high fecal colonization of companion and domestic farm animals with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, with dogs and pigs displaying the highest colonization rates
This study for the first time conducted in Tanzania examines the presence of CTX-M-15-producing E. coli in rural farming communities in Mwanza, Tanzania
Summary
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are enzymes encoded on the chromosome or on plasmids, conferring resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, and monobactams (Bradford, 2001). The burden of ESBL is currently of global concern to humans and animals and the ecosystem at large (Hawkey and Jones, 2009; Dierikx et al, 2012; Geser et al, 2012; Lupindu et al, 2014). This is due to interfaces that promote and enable the transmission of strains and antibiotic resistance genes harbored therein (Lupindu et al, 2014; Rubin and Pitout, 2014).
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