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. 2024 Mar 8;20(1):84.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03942-y.

Phenotypic, molecular detection, and Antibiotic Resistance Profile (MDR and XDR) of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from Farmed Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus

Hala F Ayoub  1 , Ahmed R Khafagy  2 , Aboelkair M Esawy  3 , Noura Abo El-Moaty  3 , Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd  4 , Abdallah Tageldein Mansour  5   6 , Reham A Ibrahim  7 , Dalia A Abdel-Moneam  8 , Reham M El-Tarabili  9
Affiliations

Phenotypic, molecular detection, and Antibiotic Resistance Profile (MDR and XDR) of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from Farmed Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus

Hala F Ayoub et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

In the present study, Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus samples collected during different seasons from various Suez Canal areas in Egypt. The prevalence of A. hydrophila, virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture were investigated to identify multiple drug resistance (MDR) and extensive drug-resistant (XDR) strains. In addition, a pathogenicity test was conducted using A. hydrophila, which was isolated and selected based on the prevalence of virulence and resistance genes, and morbidity of natural infected fish. The results revealed that A. hydrophila was isolated from 38 of the 120 collected fish samples (31.6%) and confirmed phenotypically and biochemically. Several virulence genes were detected in retrieved A. hydrophila isolates, including aerolysin aerA (57.9%), ser (28.9%), alt (26.3%), ast (13.1%), act (7.9%), hlyA (7.9%), and nuc (18.4%). Detection of antibiotic-resistant genes revealed that all isolates were positive for blapse1 (100%), blaSHV (42.1%), tetA (60.5%), and sul1 (42.1%). 63.1% of recovered isolates were considered MDR, while 28.9% of recovered isolates were considered XDR. Some isolates harbor both virulence and MDR genes; the highest percentage carried 11, followed by isolates harboring 9 virulence and resistance genes. It could be concluded that the high prevalence of A. hydrophila in aquaculture species and their diverse antibiotic resistance and virulence genes suggest the high risk of Aeromonas infection and could have important implications for aquaculture and public health.

Keywords: Aeromonas hydrophila; Antibiotic resistance, cultured freshwater fish; Prevalence; Virulence genes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Naturally infected M. Cephalus showing external hemorrhages on the eye, gill cover and fins, (B) Naturally infected Tilapia zillii showing congestion, hemorrhages and enlargement of internal organs
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Seasonal variation of A. hydrophila prevalence
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Phylogenetic tree of Aeromonas hydrophila
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Antibiotic resistance for the recovered A. hydrophila isolates
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Distribution of different A.hydrophila confirmatory, virulence and Antimicrobial resistance genes among recovered isolates
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
A A heatmap of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance genes in examined isolates. Dark red squares indicate presence; grey squares indicate absence. The figure shows five clusters (L1–L5). B The correlation coefficient (r) between various tested antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance genes
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