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Research Project: Monitoring and Molecular Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Foodborne Bacteria

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Title: Circulation of emerging Escherichia coli producing CTX-M-, MCR-1-, and FosA in retail food from Egypt: A potential zoonotic risk to humans

Author
item RAMADAN, HAZEM - Mansoura University
item SOLIMAN, AHMED - Kafrelsheikh University
item Hiott, Lari
item Woodley, Tiffanie
item CHATTAWAY, MARIE - Public Health England (PHE)
item JENKINS, CLAIRE - Public Health England (PHE)
item Frye, Jonathan
item Jackson, Charlene

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2021
Publication Date: 6/20/2021
Citation: Ramadan, H., Soliman, A.M., Hiott, L.M., Woodley, T.A., Chattaway, M.A., Jenkins, C., Frye, J.G., Jackson, C.R. 2021. Circulation of emerging Escherichia coli producing CTX-M-, MCR-1-, and FosA in retail food from Egypt: A potential zoonotic risk to humans. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in Escherichia coli has become a global health concern. Existence of shared genetic features among E. coli from different hosts necessitates the implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based phylogenetic analyses to investigate the source attribution for bacterial isolates. In this study, thirteen E. coli isolates from retail food (n=11, six isolates from ground beef and five from chicken carcasses) and humans (n=2) from Egypt, that shared Multilocus Sequence Types (MLST) were analyzed using whole genome sequencing (WGS). In silico WGS analysis showed the presence of multiple resistance genes among the examined E. coli isolates. Six CTX-M-producing isolates were identified from retail food; of these, blaCTX-M-14 was the prevalent variant identified (83.3%, 5/6). Two plasmid-mediated fosfomycin resistance genes, fosA3, and fosA4, were detected from retail food isolates (one each from chicken and beef), where fosA4 was identified in the chicken isolate 82CH that also carried the colistin resistance gene mcr-1. The blaCTX-M-14 and fosA genes in retail food isolates were located adjacent to insertion sequences ISEcp1 and IS26, respectively. The mcr-1 genetic structure [nikA- nikB (encoding relaxase)- mcr-1- pap2- top] in chicken isolate 82CH has been previously identified in human and food E. coli isolates from Egypt. Hierarchical clustering (HierCC) of core genome MLST revealed clustering of chicken isolate 82CH, co-harboring mcr-1 and fosA genes, with a chicken E. coli isolate from China at the HC200 level (= 200 core genome allelic differences). As E. coli co-harboring mcr-1 and fosA genes has only been recently reported, this study shows rapid spread of this genotype that shares similar genetic structures with regional and international E. coli lineages originating from both humans and food animals. Adopting a WGS-based surveillance system is warranted to facilitate monitoring the international spread of MDR pathogens.