Laura Ruiz-Ripa1, Andrea T Feßler2, Dennis Hanke2, Susana Sanz1, Carmen Olarte1, Inga Eichhorn2, Stefan Schwarz2, Carmen Torres3. 1. Departamento de Agricultura y Alimentación, Universidad de La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain. 2. Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany. 3. Departamento de Agricultura y Alimentación, Universidad de La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain. Electronic address: carmen.torres@unirioja.es.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Two linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates, C10004 and C10009, were recovered from air samples of a Spanish swine farm and comprehensively characterized. METHODS: Detection of linezolid resistance mechanisms (mutations and acquisition of resistance genes) was performed by PCR/sequencing. Isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and analysis of the genetic environment of the linezolid resistance genes. The characterization of isolate C10009 was performed by Whole-Genome-Sequencing and of isolate C10004 by PCR and amplicon sequencing, where applicable. Conjugation experiments to assess the transferability of the optrA and poxtA genes implicated in linezolid resistance were performed. RESULTS: The linezolid-resistant E. faecium isolates C10004 and C10009, assigned to ST128 and ST437, respectively, harbored the optrA and poxtA genes. Neither mutations in the 23S rRNA nor in the genes for the ribosomal proteins L3, L4 and L22 were detected. C10004 and C10009 carried fourteen and thirteen antimicrobial resistance genes, respectively. The sequence alignment indicated that the genetic environment of the poxtA gene was identical in both isolates, with a downstream-located fexB gene. The poxtA gene was transferred by conjugation together with the fexB gene, and also with tet(M) and tet(L) in the case of isolate C10004. The optrA gene could not be transferred. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the poxtA gene in Spain. The presence of poxtA- and optrA-carrying E. faecium isolates in air samples represents a public health concern, indicating an involvement of swine farms in the spread of linezolid-resistant bacteria.
OBJECTIVE: Two linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates, C10004 and C10009, were recovered from air samples of a Spanish swine farm and comprehensively characterized. METHODS: Detection of linezolid resistance mechanisms (mutations and acquisition of resistance genes) was performed by PCR/sequencing. Isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and analysis of the genetic environment of the linezolid resistance genes. The characterization of isolate C10009 was performed by Whole-Genome-Sequencing and of isolate C10004 by PCR and amplicon sequencing, where applicable. Conjugation experiments to assess the transferability of the optrA and poxtA genes implicated in linezolid resistance were performed. RESULTS: The linezolid-resistant E. faecium isolates C10004 and C10009, assigned to ST128 and ST437, respectively, harbored the optrA and poxtA genes. Neither mutations in the 23S rRNA nor in the genes for the ribosomal proteins L3, L4 and L22 were detected. C10004 and C10009 carried fourteen and thirteen antimicrobial resistance genes, respectively. The sequence alignment indicated that the genetic environment of the poxtA gene was identical in both isolates, with a downstream-located fexB gene. The poxtA gene was transferred by conjugation together with the fexB gene, and also with tet(M) and tet(L) in the case of isolate C10004. The optrA gene could not be transferred. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the poxtA gene in Spain. The presence of poxtA- and optrA-carrying E. faecium isolates in air samples represents a public health concern, indicating an involvement of swine farms in the spread of linezolid-resistant bacteria.
Authors: Laura Ruiz-Ripa; Elena Gómez-Sanz; Carmen Simón; Sara Ceballos; Carmelo Ortega; Myriam Zarazaga; Carmen Torres Journal: BMC Vet Res Date: 2021-01-21 Impact factor: 2.741
Authors: Stefan Schwarz; Wanjiang Zhang; Xiang-Dang Du; Henrike Krüger; Andrea T Feßler; Shizhen Ma; Yao Zhu; Congming Wu; Jianzhong Shen; Yang Wang Journal: Clin Microbiol Rev Date: 2021-06-02 Impact factor: 50.129