Prevalence of Plasmid-Associated Tetracycline Resistance Genes in Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains

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Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli
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Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli

Published on: March 24, 2023

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I E Ramírez-Bayard1,2,3, F Mejía1,2,3, J R Medina-Sánchez1,2,3

  • 1Experimental and Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Vice Rectory of Research and Postgraduate Affairs, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City 0820, Panama.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance bacteria, including Escherichia coli, are widespread. Tetracycline resistance was highly prevalent in E. coli from Panamanian environmental, animal, and human samples, indicating potential gene transfer.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Bacterial genetics

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria are ubiquitous in various environmental sources, including water, food, and clinical samples.
  • Enterobacteriaceae, particularly Escherichia coli, exhibit increasing antibiotic resistance, posing a significant global health and economic threat.
  • Fecal microbiota monitoring is crucial as it harbors reservoirs for gene transfer between commensal and pathogenic bacteria, potentially leading to resistant E. coli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolates from diverse sources in rural Panama.
  • To investigate the prevalence of specific antibiotic resistance genes, particularly tetracycline resistance genes.
  • To assess the potential of tetracycline resistance as an indicator of horizontal gene transfer within bacterial communities.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 150 Escherichia coli isolates from environmental, animal, and human samples across three rural Panamanian areas.
  • Determined antibiotic resistance profiles against nine different antibiotics.
  • Detected plasmid-associated tetracycline resistance genes (tetA and tetB) using molecular methods.

Main Results:

  • 116 out of 150 isolates (77.3%) displayed resistance to at least one antibiotic.
  • Nearly 100% of resistant isolates showed resistance to tetracycline.
  • Plasmid-mediated tetA and tetB genes were found in 42.86% of analyzed isolates, with tetA being the most common.

Conclusions:

  • High prevalence of tetracycline resistance in E. coli from environmental, animal, and human sources in Panama.
  • The widespread presence of tetA and tetB genes suggests significant horizontal gene transfer.
  • Tetracycline resistance can serve as a valuable indicator for monitoring genetic exchange within bacterial communities.
Keywords:
E. colimultiple antibiotic resistancetetAtetBtetracycline

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