Abstract
BackgroundBrown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are an important wildlife species in cities, where they live in close proximity to humans. However, few studies have investigated their role as reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.AimWe intended to determine whether urban rats at two highly frequented sites in Vienna, Austria, carry extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and meticillin-resistant (MR) Staphylococcus spp. (MRS).MethodsWe surveyed the presence of antimicrobial resistance in 62 urban brown rats captured in 2016 and 2017 in Vienna, Austria. Intestinal and nasopharyngeal samples were cultured on selective media. We characterised the isolates and their antimicrobial properties using microbiological and genetic methods including disk diffusion, microarray analysis, sequencing, and detection and characterisation of plasmids.ResultsEight multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and two extensively drug-resistant New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases-1 (NDM-1)-producing Enterobacter xiangfangensis ST114 (En. cloacae complex) were isolated from nine of 62 rats. Nine Enterobacteriaceae isolates harboured the bla CTX-M gene and one carried a plasmid-encoded ampC gene (bla CMY-2). Forty-four MRS were isolated from 37 rats; they belonged to seven different staphylococcal species: S. fleurettii, S. sciuri, S. aureus, S. pseudintermedius, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus (all mecA-positive) and mecC-positive S. xylosus.ConclusionOur findings suggest that brown rats in cities are a potential source of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant En. xiangfangensis ST114. Considering the increasing worldwide urbanisation, rodent control remains an important priority for health in modern cities.
Highlights
The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens that are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat is becoming a global concern for human and domestic animal health [1,2]
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first isolation of New Delhi metallo-βlactamases-1 (NDM-1)-producing strains from the En. cloacae complex in Austria, NDM-1 was described in the En cloacaecomplex in other countries [41]
We demonstrate that urban rats are potential spreaders of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, including the En. cloacae pandemic ST114 clone, and of MR Staphylococcus spp (MRS), which are considered a major risk to global public health
Summary
The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens that are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat is becoming a global concern for human and domestic animal health [1,2]. The role of urban wildlife as reservoirs and/or vectors of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is poorly understood. Do they provide a biological mechanism for the spread of AMR genes [4], they are considered sentinels of environmental pollution by antimicrobialresistant bacteria [5]. Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are an important wildlife species in cities, where they live in close proximity to humans. Aim: We intended to determine whether urban rats at two highly frequented sites in Vienna, Austria, carry extended-spectrum β-lactamaseproducing Enterobacteriaceae, fluoroquinoloneresistant Enterobacteriaceae and meticillin-resistant (MR) Staphylococcus spp. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that brown rats in cities are a potential source of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant En. xiangfangensis ST114. Considering the increasing worldwide urbanisation, rodent control remains an important priority for health in modern cities
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