Genetic analysis of multidrug-resistant and AmpC-producing Citrobacter freundii

S.A. Hassoubah

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shasouba@kau.edu.sa

---

• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: During the last decade, antimicrobial resistance within pet animals has received worldwide concern owing to their close contact with humans and the possibility of animal-human co-transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study examined phenotypic as well as molecular mechanisms associated with antimicrobial resistance in a multidrug-resistant, and AmpC-producing Citrobacter freundii recovered from a dog suffering from kennel cough in.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The isolate was recovered from a two-year-old dog suffering from severe respiratory manifestations. Phenotypically, the isolate was resistant to a wide range of antimicrobial agents including, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, minocycline, piperacillin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and tobramycin. PCR and sequencing confirmed that the isolate harbors multiple antibiotic resistance genes, such as blaCMY-48 and blaTEM-1B which mediate resistance to B-lactams, and qnrB6 which mediate resistance to quinolone antibiotics.

RESULTS: Multilocus sequence typing confirmed that the isolate belongs to ST163. Due to the unique characteristics of this pathogen, the whole genome sequencing was performed. In addition to the previously confirmed antibiotic resistance genes by PCR, the isolate was also confirmed to harbor other resistance genes which mediate resistance to aminoglycoside (aac(3)-IId, aac(6’)-Ib-cr, aadA16, aph(3’’)-Ib, and aph(6)-Id), macrolides [mph(A)), phenicols (floR), rifampicin (ARR-3), sulphonamides (sul1 and sul2), trimethoprim (dfrA27), and tetracycline (tet(A) and tet(B)].

CONCLUSIONS: The results presented in this study confirm that pets are possible sources of highly pathogenic multidrug-resistant microbes with unique genetic characteristics taking into consideration the high potential for their dissemination to humans, which can undoubtedly develop of severe infections in these hosts.

Free PDF Download