Identification of ESBL-Producing Enterobacterales From Vegetable Plants: Preliminary Findings From a Small Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Area of Madagascar

Adrien Rieux ¹, Mamitina Alain Noah Rabenandrasana ²

⁰CIRAD, UMR PVBMT, F-97410 St Pierre, La Réunion, France.

Environmental Microbiology Reports +

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June 18, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales were found on vegetable plants in Madagascar. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are linked to animal and human strains, indicating environmental contamination risks.

Area Of Science

Microbiology
Genomics
Epidemiology

Background

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales are crucial for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance across human, animal, and environmental sectors.
Investigating ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in plant ecosystems is vital for understanding AMR transmission pathways.

Purpose Of The Study

To determine the presence and genetic diversity of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales on vegetable plants.
To characterize antibiotic resistance genes and plasmid content in plant-isolated strains.
To assess the genetic relatedness of plant-isolated strains to those from other reservoirs.

Main Methods

Isolation and whole-genome sequencing of beta-lactam-resistant Enterobacterales from vegetable plants.
Genomic and phylogenetic analyses to characterize resistance genes, plasmid content, and genetic structure.
Comparison of plant-isolated strains with strains from human, animal, and environmental sources.

Main Results

Five of 22 collected Enterobacterales strains from vegetable plants were identified as ESBL producers.
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains harboring multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected.
ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) from plants showed genetic and epidemiological links to strains from animals, humans, and the environment, with no host-specific lineages.

Conclusions

Vegetable plants in rural Madagascar are contaminated with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, likely due to human activities.
These findings suggest the potential for transfer of ESBL-Ec between plants and other reservoirs.
Contaminated vegetable plants pose a potential risk for human and animal exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes.