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Tobin LA, Jarocki VM, Kenyon J, Drigo B, Donner E, Djordjevic SP, Hamidian M. Genomic analysis of diverse environmental Acinetobacter isolates identifies plasmids, antibiotic resistance genes, and capsular polysaccharides shared with clinical strains. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0165423. [PMID: 38206028 PMCID: PMC10885009 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01654-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii, an important pathogen known for its widespread antibiotic resistance, has been the focus of extensive research within its genus, primarily involving clinical isolates. Consequently, data on environmental A. baumannii and other Acinetobacter species remain limited. Here, we utilized Illumina and Nanopore sequencing to analyze the genomes of 10 Acinetobacter isolates representing 6 different species sourced from aquatic environments in South Australia. All 10 isolates were phylogenetically distinct compared to clinical and other non-clinical Acinetobacter strains, often tens of thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms from their nearest neighbors. Despite the genetic divergence, we identified pdif modules (sections of mobilized DNA) carrying clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes in species other than A. baumannii, including carbapenemase oxa58, tetracycline resistance gene tet(39), and macrolide resistance genes msr(E)-mph(E). These pdif modules were located on plasmids with high sequence identity to those circulating in globally distributed A. baumannii ST1 and ST2 clones. The environmental A. baumannii isolate characterized here (SAAb472; ST350) did not possess any native plasmids; however, it could capture two clinically important plasmids (pRAY and pACICU2) with high transfer frequencies. Furthermore, A. baumannii SAAb472 possessed virulence genes and a capsular polysaccharide type analogous to clinical strains. Our findings highlight the potential for environmental Acinetobacter species to acquire and disseminate clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes, underscoring the need for further research into the ecology and evolution of this important genus.IMPORTANCEAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human, animal, and environmental health. Studying AMR in environmental bacteria is crucial to understand the emergence and dissemination of resistance genes and pathogens, and to identify potential reservoirs and transmission routes. This study provides novel insights into the genomic diversity and AMR potential of environmental Acinetobacter species. By comparing the genomes of aquatic Acinetobacter isolates with clinical and non-clinical strains, we revealed that they are highly divergent yet carry pdif modules that encode resistance to antibiotics commonly used in clinical settings. We also demonstrated that an environmental A. baumannii isolate can acquire clinically relevant plasmids and carries virulence factors similar to those of hospital-associated strains. These findings suggest that environmental Acinetobacter species may serve as reservoirs and vectors of clinically important genes. Consequently, further research is warranted to comprehensively understand the ecology and evolution of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam A. Tobin
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Veronica M. Jarocki
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- The Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Johanna Kenyon
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Barbara Drigo
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
- UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
| | - Erica Donner
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food, and Environments (CRC SAAFE), Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Steven P. Djordjevic
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- The Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Mehrad Hamidian
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
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Angoshtari R, Scribner KT, Marsh TL. The impact of primary colonizers on the community composition of river biofilm. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288040. [PMID: 37956125 PMCID: PMC10642824 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As a strategy for minimizing microbial infections in fish hatcheries, we have investigated how putatively probiotic bacterial populations influence biofilm formation. All surfaces that are exposed to the aquatic milieu develop a microbial community through the selective assembly of microbial populations into a surface-adhering biofilm. In the investigations reported herein, we describe laboratory experiments designed to determine how initial colonization of a surface by nonpathogenic isolates from sturgeon eggs influence the subsequent assembly of populations from a pelagic river community, into the existing biofilm. All eight of the tested strains altered the assembly of river biofilm in a strain-specific manner. Previously formed isolate biofilm was challenged with natural river populations and after 24 hours, two strains and two-isolate combinations proved highly resistant to invasion, comprising at least 80% of the biofilm community, four isolates were intermediate in resistance, accounting for at least 45% of the biofilm community and two isolates were reduced to 4% of the biofilm community. Founding biofilms of Serratia sp, and combinations of Brevundimonas sp.-Hydrogenophaga sp. and Brevundimonas sp.-Acidovorax sp. specifically blocked populations of Aeromonas and Flavobacterium, potential fish pathogens, from colonizing the biofilm. In addition, all isolate biofilms were effective at blocking invading populations of Arcobacter. Several strains, notably Deinococcus sp., recruited specific low-abundance river populations into the top 25 most abundant populations within biofilm. The experiments suggest that relatively simple measures can be used to control the assembly of biofilm on the eggs surface and perhaps offer protection from pathogens. In addition, the methodology provides a relatively rapid way to detect potentially strong ecological interactions between bacterial populations in the formation of biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Angoshtari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
| | - Kim T. Scribner
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
| | - Terence L. Marsh
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
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Sajjad B, Rasool K, Siddique A, Jabbar KA, El-Malaha SS, Sohail MU, Almomani F, Alfarra MR. Size-resolved ambient bioaerosols concentration, antibiotic resistance, and community composition during autumn and winter seasons in Qatar. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122401. [PMID: 37598930 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the size distribution, microbial composition, and antibiotic resistance (ABR) of airborne bioaerosols at a suburban location in Doha, Qatar between October 2021 and January 2022. Samples were collected using an Andersen six-stage viable cascade impactor and a liquid impinger. Findings showed that the mean bacteria concentration (464 CFU/m3) was significantly higher than that of fungi (242 CFU/m3) during the study period. Both bacteria and fungi were most abundant in the aerodynamic size fractions of 1.10-2.21 μm, with peak concentrations observed in the mornings and lowest concentrations in the afternoons across all size fractions. A total of 24 different culturable species were identified, with the most abundant ones being Pasteurella pneumotropica (9.71%), Pantoea spp. 1 (8.73%), and Proteus penneri (7.77%) spp. At the phylum level, the bacterial community configurations during the autumn and winter seasons were nearly identical as revealed by molecular genomics, with Proteobacteria being the most predominant, followed by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteriota, and Planctomycetota. However, there was a significant variation in dominant genera between autumn and winter. The most abundant genera included Sphingomonas, Paraburkholderia, Comamonas, Bacillus, and Lysinibacillus. Several bacterial genera identified in this study have important public health and ecological implications, including the risk of respiratory tract infections. Furthermore, the study found that ABR was highest in December, with bioaerosols exhibiting resistance to at least 5 out of 10 antibiotics, and 100% resistance to Metronidazole in all samples. Metagenomics analysis revealed the presence of various airborne bacteria that were not detected through culture-dependent methods. This study provides valuable insights into the airborne microbial composition, temporal variability and ABR in the Arabian Gulf region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Sajjad
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P. O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar; Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, Qatar
| | - Kashif Rasool
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P. O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Azhar Siddique
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P. O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Khadeeja Abdul Jabbar
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P. O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shimaa S El-Malaha
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P. O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Fares Almomani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, Qatar
| | - M Rami Alfarra
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P. O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
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Silva I, Rodrigues ET, Tacão M, Henriques I. Microplastics accumulate priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens: Evidence from the riverine plastisphere. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121995. [PMID: 37302790 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) might accumulate and transport antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in aquatic systems. We determined the abundance and diversity of culturable ciprofloxacin- and cefotaxime-resistant bacteria in biofilms covering MPs placed in river water, and characterized priority pathogens from these biofilms. Our results showed that the abundance of ARB colonizing MPs tends to be higher compared to sand particles. Also, higher numbers were cultivated from a mixture of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), compared to PP and PET alone. Aeromonas and Pseudomonas isolates were the most frequently retrieved from MPs placed before a WWTP discharge while Enterobacteriaceae dominated the culturable plastisphere 200 m after the WWTP discharge. Ciprofloxacin- and/or cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (n = 54 unique isolates) were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 37), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Citrobacter spp. (n = 9), Enterobacter spp. (n = 4) and Shigella sp. (n = 1). All isolates presented at least one of the virulence features tested (i.e. biofilm formation, haemolytic activity and production of siderophores), 70% carried the intI1 gene and 85% exhibited a multi-drug resistance phenotype. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes were detected in ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae [aacA4-cr (40% of the isolates), qnrS (30%), qnrB (25%), and qnrVC (8%)], along with mutations in gyrA (70%) and parC (72%). Cefotaxime-resistant strains (n = 23) harbored blaCTX-M (70%), blaTEM (61%) and blaSHV (39%). Among CTX-M producers, high-risk clones of E. coli (e.g. ST10 or ST131) and K. pneumoniae (ST17) were identified, most of which carrying blaCTX-M-15. Ten out of 16 CTX-M producers were able to transfer blaCTX-M to a recipient strain. Our results demonstrated the occurrence of multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the riverine plastisphere, harboring ARGs of clinical concern and exhibiting virulence traits, suggesting a contribution of MPs to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens. The type of MPs and especially water contamination (e.g. by WWTPs discharges) seem to determine the resistome of the riverine plastisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Elsa T Rodrigues
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Prity FT, Tobin LA, Maharajan R, Paulsen IT, Cain AK, Hamidian M. The evolutionary tale of eight novel plasmids in a colistin-resistant environmental Acinetobacter baumannii isolate. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 37171842 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic pathogen known for its high levels of resistance to many antibiotics, particularly those considered last resorts such as colistin and carbapenems. Plasmids of this organism are increasingly associated with the spread of clinically important antibiotic resistance genes. Although A. baumannii is a ubiquitous organism, to date, most of the focus has been on studying strains recovered from clinical samples ignoring those isolated in the environment (soil, water, food, etc.). Here, we analysed the genetic structures of eight novel plasmids carried by an environmental colistin-resistant A. baumannii (strain E-072658) recovered in a recycled fibre pulp in a paper mill in Finland. It was shown that E-072658 carries a new variant of the mcr-4 colistin resistance gene (mcr-4.7) in a novel Tn3-family transposon (called Tn6926) carried by a novel plasmid p8E072658. E-072658 is also resistant to sulphonamide compounds; consistent with this, the sul2 sulphonamide resistance gene was found in a pdif module. E-072658 also carries six additional plasmids with no antibiotic resistance genes, but they contained several pdif modules shared with plasmids carried by clinical strains. Detailed analysis of the genetic structure of all eight plasmids carried by E-072658 showed a complex evolutionary history revealing genetic exchange events within the genus Acinetobacter beyond the clinical or environmental origin of the strains. This work provides evidence that environmental strains might act as a source for some of the clinically significant antibiotic resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzana T Prity
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Liam A Tobin
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ram Maharajan
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Amy K Cain
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Mehrad Hamidian
- Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
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Tate H, Ayers S, Nyirabahizi E, Li C, Borenstein S, Young S, Rice-Trujillo C, Saint Fleurant S, Bodeis-Jones S, Li X, Tobin-D’Angelo M, Volkova V, Hardy R, Mingle L, M’ikanatha NM, Ruesch L, Whitehouse CA, Tyson GH, Strain E, McDermott PF. Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Select Bacteria From Retail Seafood—United States, 2019. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:928509. [PMID: 35814688 PMCID: PMC9262255 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.928509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, the United States National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) surveyed raw salmon, shrimp, and tilapia from retail grocery outlets in eight states to assess the prevalence of bacterial contamination and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the isolates. Prevalence of the targeted bacterial genera ranged among the commodities: Salmonella (0%–0.4%), Aeromonas (19%–26%), Vibrio (7%–43%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.8%–2.3%), Staphylococcus (23%–30%), and Enterococcus (39%–66%). Shrimp had the highest odds (OR: 2.8, CI: 2.0–3.9) of being contaminated with at least one species of these bacteria, as were seafood sourced from Asia vs. North America (OR: 2.7; CI: 1.8–4.7) and Latin America and the Caribbean vs. North America (OR: 1.6; CI: 1.1–2.3) and seafood sold at the counter vs. sold frozen (OR: 2.1; CI: 1.6–2.9). Isolates exhibited pan-susceptibility (Salmonella and P. aeruginosa) or low prevalence of resistance (<10%) to most antimicrobials tested, with few exceptions. Seafood marketed as farm-raised had lower odds of contamination with antimicrobial resistant bacteria compared to wild-caught seafood (OR: 0.4, CI: 0.2–0.7). Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were detected for various classes of medically important antimicrobials. Clinically relevant ARGs included carbapenemases (blaIMI-2, blaNDM-1) and extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs; blaCTX-M-55). This population-scale study of AMR in seafood sold in the United States provided the basis for NARMS seafood monitoring, which began in 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Tate
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Heather Tate,
| | - Sherry Ayers
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Epiphanie Nyirabahizi
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Cong Li
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Stacey Borenstein
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Shenia Young
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Crystal Rice-Trujillo
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Sanchez Saint Fleurant
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Sonya Bodeis-Jones
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Xunde Li
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Melissa Tobin-D’Angelo
- Acute Disease Epidemiology Section, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Victoriya Volkova
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Rachel Hardy
- Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, Jefferson City, MO, United States
| | - Lisa Mingle
- Wadsworth Center Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Nkuchia M. M’ikanatha
- Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, PA, United States
| | - Laura Ruesch
- Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United States
| | - Chris A. Whitehouse
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Gregory H. Tyson
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Errol Strain
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Patrick F. McDermott
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States
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Godijk NG, Bootsma MCJ, Bonten MJM. Transmission routes of antibiotic resistant bacteria: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:482. [PMID: 35596134 PMCID: PMC9123679 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07360-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Quantification of acquisition routes of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) is pivotal for understanding transmission dynamics and designing cost-effective interventions. Different methods have been used to quantify the importance of transmission routes, such as relative risks, odds ratios (OR), genomic comparisons and basic reproduction numbers. We systematically reviewed reported estimates on acquisition routes’ contributions of ARB in humans, animals, water and the environment and assessed the methods used to quantify the importance of transmission routes. Methods PubMed and EMBASE were searched, resulting in 6054 articles published up until January 1st, 2019. Full text screening was performed on 525 articles and 277 are included. Results We extracted 718 estimates with S. aureus (n = 273), E. coli (n = 157) and Enterobacteriaceae (n = 99) being studied most frequently. Most estimates were derived from statistical methods (n = 560), mainly expressed as risks (n = 246) and ORs (n = 239), followed by genetic comparisons (n = 85), modelling (n = 62) and dosage of ARB ingested (n = 17). Transmission routes analysed most frequently were occupational exposure (n = 157), travelling (n = 110) and contacts with carriers (n = 83). Studies were mostly performed in the United States (n = 142), the Netherlands (n = 87) and Germany (n = 60). Comparison of methods was not possible as studies using different methods to estimate the same route were lacking. Due to study heterogeneity not all estimates by the same method could be pooled. Conclusion Despite an abundance of published data the relative importance of transmission routes of ARB has not been accurately quantified. Links between exposure and acquisition are often present, but the frequency of exposure is missing, which disables estimation of transmission routes’ importance. To create effective policies reducing ARB, estimates of transmission should be weighed by the frequency of exposure occurrence. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07360-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noortje G Godijk
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Martin C J Bootsma
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marc J M Bonten
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Basili M, Techtmann SM, Zaggia L, Luna GM, Quero GM. Partitioning and sources of microbial pollution in the Venice Lagoon. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151755. [PMID: 34848267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microbial pollutants are a serious threat to human and environmental health in coastal areas. Based on the hypothesis that pollution from multiple sources may produce a distinct microbial signature and that microbial pollutants seem to distribute between a free-living and a particle-attached fraction, we investigated the occurrence, partitioning and sources of microbial pollutants in water samples collected in the Venice Lagoon (Italy). The area was taken as a case study of an environment characterized by a long history of industrial pollution and by growing human pressure. We found a variety of pollutants from several sources, with sewage-associated and faecal bacteria accounting for up to 5.98% of microbial communities. Sewage-associated pollutants were most abundant close to the city centre. Faecal pollution was highest in the area of the industrial port and was dominated by human inputs, whereas contamination from animal faeces was mainly detected at the interface with the mainland. Microbial pollutants were almost exclusively associated with the particle-attached fraction. The samples also contained other potential pathogens. Our findings stress the need for monitoring and managing microbial pollution in highly urbanized lagoon and semi-enclosed systems and suggest that management plans to reduce microbial inputs to the waterways should include measures to reduce particulate matter inputs to the lagoon. Finally, High-Throughput Sequencing combined with computational approaches proved critical to assess water quality and appears to be a valuable tool to support the monitoring of waterborne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Basili
- CNR IRBIM, National Research Council - Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Stephen M Techtmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States
| | - Luca Zaggia
- CNR IGG, National Research Council - Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Luna
- CNR IRBIM, National Research Council - Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Grazia Marina Quero
- CNR IRBIM, National Research Council - Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
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Huff Chester A, Gordon C, Hartmann HA, Bartell SE, Ansah E, Yan T, Li B, Dampha NK, Edmiston PL, Novak PJ, Schoenfuss HL. Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Lower Volta River, Ghana, West Africa: The Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Urban Development Nexus. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:369-381. [PMID: 34939696 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments across all continents and are relatively well known in the developed world. However, few studies have investigated their presence and biological effects in low- and middle-income countries. We provide a survey of CEC presence in the Volta River, Ghana, and examine the microbial consequences of anthropogenic activities along this economically and ecologically important African river. Water and sediment samples were taken by boat or from shore at 14 sites spanning 118 km of river course from the Volta estuary to the Akosombo dam. Sample extracts were prepared for targeted analysis of antimicrobial CECs, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS; water only). Concurrent samples were extracted to characterize the microbial community and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). Antibiotics and PFAS (PFAS, 2-20 ng/L) were found in all water samples; however, their concentrations were usually in the low nanograms per liter range and lower than reported for other African, European, and North American studies. N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide was present in all samples. The number of different genes detected (between one and 10) and total ARG concentrations varied in both water (9.1 × 10-6 to 8.2 × 10-3 ) and sediment (2.2 × 10-4 to 5.3 × 10-2 ), with increases in gene variety at sites linked to urban development, sand mining, agriculture, and shellfish processing. Total ARG concentration spikes in sediment samples were associated with agriculture. No correlations between water quality parameters, CEC presence, and/or ARGs were noted. The presence of CECs in the lower Volta River highlights their global reach. The overall low concentrations of CECs detected is encouraging and, coupled with mitigation measures, can stymie future CEC pollution in the Volta River. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:369-381. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anndee Huff Chester
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Christopher Gordon
- Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Stephen E Bartell
- Department of Biology, Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emmanuel Ansah
- Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Tao Yan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Nfamara K Dampha
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Paul L Edmiston
- Department of Chemistry, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, USA
| | - Paige J Novak
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Heiko L Schoenfuss
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
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10
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An Ohio State Scenic River Shows Elevated Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Including Acinetobacter Tetracycline and Macrolide Resistance, Downstream of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0094121. [PMID: 34468194 PMCID: PMC8557926 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00941-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The entry of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into aquatic systems has been documented for large municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), but there is less study of the impact of smaller plants that are situated on small rural rivers. We sampled water metagenomes for ARGs and taxa composition from the Kokosing River, a small rural river in Knox County, Ohio, which has been designated an Ohio State Scenic River for retention of natural character. Samples were obtained 1.0 km upstream, 120 m downstream, and 6.4 km downstream from the effluent release of the Mount Vernon WWTP. ARGs were identified in metagenomes using ShortBRED markers from the comprehensive antibiotic resistance database (CARD) screened against UniPROT. Through all seasons, the metagenome just downstream of the WWTP effluent showed a substantial elevation of at least 15 different ARGs, including 6 ARGs commonly associated with Acinetobacter baumannii, such as msrE, mphE (macrolide resistance), and tet(39) (tetracycline resistance). The ARGs most prevalent near the effluent pipe persisted 6.4 km downriver. Using metagenomic phylogenetic analysis (MetaPhlAn2) clade-specific marker genes, the taxa distribution near the effluent showed elevation of reads annotated as Acinetobacter species as well as gut-associated taxa, Bacteroides and Firmicutes. The ARG levels and taxa prevalence showed little dependence on seasonal chlorination of the effluent. Nitrogen and phosphorus were elevated near the effluent pipe but had no consistent correlation with ARG levels. We show that in a rural river microbiome, year-round wastewater effluent substantially elevates ARGs, including those associated with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem worldwide, with frequent transmission between pathogens and environmental organisms. Rural rivers can support high levels of recreational use by people unaware of inputs from treated wastewater, while wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can generate a small but significant portion of flow volume into a river surrounded by forest and agriculture. There is little information on the rural impacts of WWTP effluent on the delivery and transport of antibiotic resistance genes. In our study, the river water proximal to wastewater effluent shows evidence for the influx of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, an opportunistic pathogen of concern for hospitals but also widespread in natural environments. Our work highlights the importance of wastewater effluent in management of environmental antibiotic resistance, even in high quality, rural river systems.
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11
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Xie R, Shao N, Zheng J. Integrated Co-functional Network Analysis on the Resistance and Virulence Features in Acinetobacter baumannii. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:598380. [PMID: 33224132 PMCID: PMC7667040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.598380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most troublesome bacterial pathogens that pose major public health threats due to its rapidly increasing drug resistance property. It is not only derived from clinic setting but also emerges from aquaculture as a fish pathogen, which could pass the resistant genes in the food chain. Understanding the mechanism of antibiotic resistance development and pathogenesis will aid our battle with the infections caused by A. baumannii. In this study, we constructed a co-functional network by integrating multiple sources of data from A. baumannii and then used the k-shell decomposition to analyze the co-functional network. We found that genes involving in basic cellular physiological function, including genes for antibiotic resistance, tended to have high k-shell values and locate in the internal layer of our network. In contrast, the non-essential genes, such as genes associated with virulence, tended to have lower k-shell values and locate in the external layer. This finding allows us to fish out the potential antibiotic resistance factors and virulence factors. In addition, we constructed an online platform ABviresDB (https://acba.shinyapps.io/ABviresDB/) for visualization of the network and features of each gene in A. baumannii. The network analysis in this study will not only aid the study on A. baumannii but also could be referenced for the research of antibiotic resistance and pathogenesis in other bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqiang Xie
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Ningyi Shao
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.,Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Macau, Macau, China
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12
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Carvalheira A, Silva J, Teixeira P. Acinetobacter spp. in food and drinking water - A review. Food Microbiol 2020; 95:103675. [PMID: 33397609 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2020.103675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Acinetobacter spp. has emerged as a pathogen of major public health concern due to their increased resistance to antibiotics and their association with a wide range of nosocomial infections, community-acquired infections and war and natural disaster-related infections. It is recognized as a ubiquitous organism however, information about the prevalence of different pathogenic species of this genus in food sources and drinking water is scarce. Since the implementation of molecular techniques, the role of foods as a source of several species, including the Acinetobacter baumannii group, has been elucidated. Multidrug resistance was also detected among Acinetobacter spp. isolated from food products. This highlights the importance of foods as potential sources of dissemination of Acinetobacter spp. between the community and clinical environments and reinforces the need for further investigations on the potential health risks of Acinetobacter spp. as foodborne pathogens. The aim of this review was to summarize the published data on the occurrence of Acinetobacter spp. in different food sources and drinking water. This information should be taken into consideration by those responsible for infection control in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carvalheira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Silva
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Teixeira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal.
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13
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Malev O, Lovrić M, Stipaničev D, Repec S, Martinović-Weigelt D, Zanella D, Ivanković T, Sindičić Đuretec V, Barišić J, Li M, Klobučar G. Toxicity prediction and effect characterization of 90 pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs measured in plasma of fish from a major European river (Sava, Croatia). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115162. [PMID: 32771868 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chemical analysis of plasma samples of wild fish from the Sava River (Croatia) revealed the presence of 90 different pharmaceuticals/illicit drugs and their metabolites (PhACs/IDrgs). The concentrations of these PhACs/IDrgs in plasma were 10 to 1000 times higher than their concentrations in river water. Antibiotics, allergy/cold medications and analgesics were categories with the highest plasma concentrations. Fifty PhACs/IDrgs were identified as chemicals of concern based on the fish plasma model (FPM) effect ratios (ER) and their potential to activate evolutionary conserved biological targets. Chemicals of concern were also prioritized by calculating exposure-activity ratios (EARs) where plasma concentrations of chemicals were compared to their bioactivities in comprehensive ToxCast suite of in vitro assays. Overall, the applied prioritization methods indicated stimulants (nicotine, cotinine) and allergy/cold medications (prednisolone, dexamethasone) as having the highest potential biological impact on fish. The FPM model pointed to psychoactive substances (hallucinogens/stimulants and opioids) and psychotropic substances in the cannabinoids category (i.e. CBD and THC). EAR confirmed above and singled out additional chemicals of concern - anticholesteremic simvastatin and antiepileptic haloperidol. Present study demonstrates how the use of a combination of chemical analyses, and bio-effects based risk predictions with multiple criteria can help identify priority contaminants in freshwaters. The results reveal a widespread exposure of fish to complex mixtures of PhACs/IDrgs, which may target common molecular targets. While many of the prioritized chemicals occurred at low concentrations, their adverse effect on aquatic communities, due to continuous chronic exposure and additive effects, should not be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Malev
- Department for Translational Medicine, Srebrnjak Children's Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Mario Lovrić
- Know-Center, Inffeldgasse 13/6, A-8010, Graz, Austria; NMR Centre, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Draženka Stipaničev
- Croatian Waters, Central Water Management Laboratory, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Siniša Repec
- Croatian Waters, Central Water Management Laboratory, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Dalma Martinović-Weigelt
- University of St. Thomas, Department of Biology, Mail OWS 390, 2115 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, USA.
| | - Davor Zanella
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Tomislav Ivanković
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Josip Barišić
- Laboratory for Biotechnology in Aquaculture, Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Göran Klobučar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, Croatia.
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14
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Benoit T, Cloutier M, Schop R, Lowerison MW, Khan IUH. Comparative assessment of growth media and incubation conditions for enhanced recovery and isolation of Acinetobacter baumannii from aquatic matrices. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 176:106023. [PMID: 32795636 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii causes serious multidrug resistant nosocomial infections around the world. This comprehensive comparative study was designed to assess the effect of temperature (30, 37 and 42 °C), incubation (aerobic and microaerobic) condition and selective [CHROMagar Acinetobacter (CHR) and Leeds Acinetobacter Medium (LAM)] and non-selective [Modified Karmali Agar (MKA)] growth media on the enhanced recovery of A. baumannii from a variety of water (agricultural, recreational, raw drinking intake source, pre-chlorinated and post-chlorinated wastewater effluent) samples spiked with a known number of A. baumannii cells. After spiking each water type with a known number of cells in 10 mL volume, the sample was passed through a membrane filter (pore size 0.45 μm) and filters were placed on different selective media plates and subjected to incubate at various incubation conditions. The results reported in this study show that for all water types tested (except post-chlorinated wastewater effluent), LAM was the most effective selective growth medium in combination with variable temperature and incubation conditions for yielding high recovery rates of A. baumannii cells. Overall, A. baumannii showed that it has a high adaptive capacity to grow on selective and non-selective growth media at different temperature and incubation conditions. The data described in this study suggest that no single incubation condition and growth media would efficiently recover A. baumannii from all environmental water types tested. This data also indicate that selective growth media and incubation condition can significantly affect the recovery of A. baumannii. Differences in recovery of A. baumannii observed in this study which appeared to be dependent on the temperature and environmental characteristics of incubation as well as the sample type, suggest the need for caution when comparing recovery using different protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Benoit
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michel Cloutier
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rhonda Schop
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Etobioke, ON, Canada
| | | | - Izhar U H Khan
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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15
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Anane A Y, Apalata T, Vasaikar S, Okuthe GE, Songca S. Prevalence and molecular analysis of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in the extra-hospital environment in Mthatha, South Africa. Braz J Infect Dis 2019; 23:371-380. [PMID: 31706742 PMCID: PMC9428220 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The presence of Acinetobacter baumannii outside hospitals remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) A. baumannii in the extra-hospital environment in Mthatha, South Africa and to investigate the frequency of carbapenemase-encoding genes. Material and Methods From August 2016 to July 2017 a total of 598 abattoir samples and 689 aquatic samples were collected and analyzed presumptively by cultural methods for the presence of A. baumannii using CHROMagar™ Acinetobacter medium. Species identification was performed by autoSCAN-4 (Dade Behring Inc., IL) and confirmed by the detection of their intrinsic blaOXA-51 gene. Confirmed MDR A. baumannii isolates were screened for the presence of carbapenemase-encoding genes, ISAba1 insertion sequence and integrase intI1. Results In total, 248 (19.3%) Acinetobacter species were isolated. Acinetobacter. baumannii was detected in 183 (73.8%) of which 85 (46.4%) and 98 (53.6%) were recovered from abattoir and aquatic respectively. MDR A. baumannii was detected in 56.5% (48/85) abattoir isolates and 53.1% (52/98) aquatic isolates. Isolates showed high resistance to antimicrobials most frequently used to treat Acinetobacter infections such as piperacillin/tazobactam; abattoir (98% of isolates resistant), aquatic (94% of isolates resistant), ceftazidime (84%, 83%), ciprofloxacin (71%, 70%), amikacin (41%, 42%), imipenem (75%, 73%), and meropenem (74%, 71%). All the isolates were susceptible to tigecycline and colistin. All the isolates carried blaOXA-51-like. The blaOXA-23 was detected in 32 (66.7%) abattoir isolates and 11 (21.2%) aquatic isolates. The blaOXA-58-like was positive in 7 (14.6%) and 4 (7.7%) abattoir and aquatic isolates, respectively. Both groups of isolates lacked blaOXA-24-like, blaIMP-type, blaVIM-type, blaNDM-1,blaSIM, blaAmpC, ISAba1 and inI1. Isolates showed high level of Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) ranging from 0.20-0.52. Conclusion Extra-hospital sources such as abattoir and aquatic environments may be a vehicle of spread of MDR A. baumannii strains in the community and hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaw Anane A
- Walter Sisulu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
| | - Teke Apalata
- Nelson Mandela Central Hospital, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Division of Medical Microbiology, Mthatha, South Africa.
| | - Sandeep Vasaikar
- Walter Sisulu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; Nelson Mandela Central Hospital, National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Division of Medical Microbiology, Mthatha, South Africa
| | - Grace Emily Okuthe
- Walter Sisulu University, Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
| | - Sandile Songca
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, College of Agriculture Engineering and Science, School of Chemistry and Physics, Durban, South Africa
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16
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Dekić S, Hrenović J, Herlyn H, Špoljar M, Ivanković T. Impact of biotic interactions on the survival of emerging pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii in aquatic media. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2019; 79:1597-1604. [PMID: 31169518 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2019.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen causing infections in immunocompromised patients. Recent studies recorded its persistence in a variety of abiotic conditions, but data regarding the biotic interactions with other microorganisms are limited. The aim was to assess the interaction of clinically relevant A. baumannii with common faecal bacteria Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium. Additionally, the interaction with a bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga as a potential agent for biological control of A. baumannii was examined. Experiments were conducted in nutrient-poor spring water (SW) and nutrient-rich diluted nutrient broth (DNB) at 22 °C. A. baumannii coexisted with E. coli and E. faecium in both media, suggesting the absence of inter-bacterial competition in long-term survival. No difference in the survival of pandrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant or antibiotic sensitive isolates of A. baumannii was observed. Rotifers contributed to the removal of all tested bacteria, particularly in SW. Rotifers were able to remove 5.5 ± 1.3 log CFU/mL of A. baumannii in SW and 3.5 ± 1.7 log CFU/mL in DNB. Additionally, no intracellular growth of A. baumannii inside A. vaga was detected. In wastewater treatment plants and drinking water facilities, grazing by rotifers might be useful for the removal of emerging human pathogens such as A. baumannii from water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svjetlana Dekić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia E-mail:
| | - Jasna Hrenović
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia E-mail:
| | - Holger Herlyn
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Anthropology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Anselm-Franz-von-Bentzelweg 7, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria Špoljar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia E-mail:
| | - Tomislav Ivanković
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia E-mail:
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