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. 2020 Feb;99(2):1117-1123.
doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2019.10.044. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Prevalence and characteristics of multidrug-resistant mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli isolates from broiler chickens in Tai'an, China

Yanying Song  1 , Lanping Yu  2 , Yu Zhang  1 , Yu Dai  1 , Peng Wang  1 , Chenglian Feng  3 , Mengda Liu  1 , Shuhong Sun  1 , Zhijing Xie  1 , Fangkun Wang  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and characteristics of multidrug-resistant mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli isolates from broiler chickens in Tai'an, China

Yanying Song et al. Poult Sci. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Colibacillosis, caused by Escherichia coli, is one of the most common bacterial diseases of chickens. The high incidence and considerable economic losses associated with colibacillosis make it a significant concern worldwide. In recent years, the efficacy of colistin has been severely impacted by the emergence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes, especially mcr-1. Therefore, monitoring of antibiotic resistance, particularly colistin resistance, amongst E. coli strains is vitally important to the future growth and sustainability of the poultry industry. In this study, a total of 130 E. coli strains were isolated from the livers of chickens displaying symptoms of colibacillosis in Tai'an, China. Isolates were screened for their susceptibility to various antibiotics and for the presence of mobile colistin resistance genes and other antibiotic resistance genes. Overall, 75 (57.7%) isolates showed resistance to colistin and were positive for mcr-1. The mobile colistin resistance genes, mcr-2, -3, and -4, were not detected in this study. Of the 75 mcr-1-positive isolates, all (100%) also carried tetracycline resistance genes, 71 (94.7%) also contained genes associated with β-lactam resistance, 59 (78.7%) contained aminoglycoside resistance genes, and 57 (76%) contained sulfonamide resistance genes. This high prevalence of multidrug resistance among mcr-1-positive E. coli isolates, including the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases, is highly concerning. The surveillance findings presented here will be conducive to our understanding of the prevalence and characteristics of multidrug-resistance in E. coli in the Tai'an area and will provide a better scientific basis for the clinical treatment of colibacillosis in chickens.

Keywords: Escherichia coli; colistin; drug resistance gene; drug sensitivity test; mcr-1.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of the Tai'an area. A total of 400 liver tissue samples were collected from broiler chickens with perihepatitis lesions at different slaughterhouses in the Tai'an area of China. These areas are Daiyue, Ningyang, Feicheng, Xintai, and Dongping.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Rates of antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli isolates. The lowest rate of resistance was to amikacin (23.1%), whereas all 130 isolates (100%) showed resistance to nalidixic acid. Abbreviations: AK, amikacin; AMP, ampicillin; C, chloramphenicol; CN, gentamicin; CRO, ceftriaxone; CTX, cefotaxime; DO, doxycycline; LEV, levofloxacin; NA, nalidixic acid; S, streptomycin; SXT, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim; TE, tetracycline.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of multidrug resistance among 130 pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates. All the tested E. coli isolates were resistant to at least 3 antibiotics. About 81% (105/130) strains were resistant to 9-12 drugs.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Antibiotic resistance genes found to coexist with mcr-1. Overall, 94.7% (71/75) of the mcr-1–positive isolates contained a β-lactamase resistance gene, 78.7% (59/75) contained an aminoglycoside resistance gene, 100% (75/75) contained a tetracycline resistance gene, and 76.0% (57/75) contained a sulfonamide resistance gene.
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