The Wide Range of Antibiotic Resistance and Variability of Genotypic Profiles in Escherichia coli from Domestic Animals in Eastern Sicily.

Nunziatina Russo,Cinzia Caggia,Francesco Antoci,Cinzia Lucia Randazzo,Giuseppe Cascone,Massimiliano Lanza,Alessandra Pino,Alessandro Stamilla,Antonino Messina

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10010028

Nunziatina Russo, Cinzia Caggia + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10010028

Copy DOI

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug resistance among Enterobacteriaceae in livestock poses a serious public health threat. Escherichia coli, a usual host of intestinal microbiota, is recognized also as etiological agent of numerous infections widespread in both humans and animals. The colibacillosis is one of the most reported zoonoses worldwide, typically treated with antibiotics in the primary stages. This strategy has promoted the onset of antibiotic-resistant serotypes of E. coli, reducing the effectiveness of therapeutic treatments and contributing to antibiotic resistance spread. The current study focused on biodiversity, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance profile of 104 E. coli strains isolated from domestic animals in Eastern Sicily. The strains were isolated from sick animals and carcasses of six different animal species and screened for resistance against 16 antibiotic molecules, as recommended by WHO and OIE. The antibiotic resistance patterns highlighted that all strains were multi-resistant, showing resistance to at least three antibiotic classes. The highest incidence of resistance was observed against amoxicillin (100%), tylosin (97%), sulfamethoxazole (98%), and erythromycin (92%), while the lowest for colistin (8%). The pathotype characterization identified two EPEC strains and the study of genetic linkage (PFGE) showed a wide variety of profiles. The current study emphasized the wide range of multidrug resistance and genotyping profiles in E. coli isolated in Easter Sicily.

Highlights

Escherichia coli, a gram-negative, non-sporulating, facultative anaerobic bacteria, is a natural part of human and warm-blooded animal microbiota, harbored in the colon as a component of the commensal population, living in a symbiotic relationship with the host [1]
The current study focused on biodiversity, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance profile of 104 E. coli strains isolated from domestic animals in Eastern Sicily
The current study emphasized the wide range of multidrug resistance and genotyping profiles in E. coli isolated in Easter Sicily

Summary

Introduction

Escherichia coli, a gram-negative, non-sporulating, facultative anaerobic bacteria, is a natural part of human and warm-blooded animal microbiota, harbored in the colon as a component of the commensal population, living in a symbiotic relationship with the host [1]. E. coli represents only around 1% of the intestinal microbiota [2], it shows the highest ability to survive, and even grow, outside the host [3,4,5] This ability is associated with a high phenotypic diversity, mirrored by the high genomic plasticity of E. coli, confirmed by the acquisition of numerous mobile genetic elements [6]. E. coli possesses the most diverse lifestyles, and the species includes both commensal and highly pathogenic strains. These latter can cause a wide variety of intestinal and extra-intestinal infections, and some specific serotypes are associated with certain clinical syndromes, and serotypes serve as readily identifiable markers that correlate with specific virulent clones [7]. The food animal industry contributes to the increasing occurrence of AR through certain farm management practices to promote the well-being and growth of animals that can promote the selection of resistomes in the environment, with potential spillover to animals and humans [21,22,23,24]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion