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Location of water sampling. Black and white symbols represented sampling sites that were positive and negative for cefotaxime-resistant E. coli, respectively. Star, river; square, pond; diamond, canal; circle, tap water; triangle, groundwater. Circled diamond and star represent water environments that were positive for bla CTX-M-14-and bla CTX-M-27-carrying E. coli ST131, respectively.
Source publication
Sixty-eight cefotaxime-resistant Escherichia coli isolates were recovered from different water environments in Northern Thailand. Isolates were mostly resistant to ceftazidime and aztreonam (>90%). The most common extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding gene was blaCTX-M-group 1 (75%) followed by blaCTX-M-group 9 (13.2%). The co-existence of blaCTX-...
Citations
... The detection rate in river water (64%) was even higher than the detection rates in untreated human wastes and wastewater from pig farms, which were 50% and 31%, respectively (Zou et al. 2019). The CTX-M enzyme was the most abundant ESBL in Asia, but different CTX-M variants dominated the surface water in different countries; CTX-M-1 was most common in Vietnam, CTX-M-14 in South Korea and China, CTX-M-15 in Singapore and Bangladesh, and CTX-M-55 in Thailand (Kim et al. 2008, Jang et al. 2013, Haque et al. 2014, Assawatheptawee et al. 2017, Nakayama et al. 2017, Zou et al. 2019, Zhong et al. 2021. Other CTX-M variants included CTX-M-3, CTX-M-9, CTX-M-18, CTX-M-27, CTX-M-65, and CTX-M-123 (Hu et al. 2013, Haque et al. 2014, Nakayama et al. 2017, Liu et al. 2018, Zhong et al. 2021, while ESBL variants of TEM and SHV were also detected, including TEM-22, TEM-52, SHV-2, and SHV-12 (Jang et al. 2013, Haque et al. 2014. ...
... Other CTX-M variants included CTX-M-3, CTX-M-9, CTX-M-18, CTX-M-27, CTX-M-65, and CTX-M-123 (Hu et al. 2013, Haque et al. 2014, Nakayama et al. 2017, Liu et al. 2018, Zhong et al. 2021, while ESBL variants of TEM and SHV were also detected, including TEM-22, TEM-52, SHV-2, and SHV-12 (Jang et al. 2013, Haque et al. 2014. Several ESBL-producing E. coli from the aquatic environments belonged to ST131, an important clinical clone, and they were identified in China, Singapore, Thailand, and Bangladesh (Hu et al. 2013, Haque et al. 2014, Assawatheptawee et al. 2017, Zhong et al. 2021. Some studies further screened for virulence genes in their ESBL-producing isolates, and in South Korea and China, the majority of ESBL-producing E. coli, i.e. 60% (53/89) and 78.9% (60/76), respectively, were positive for virulence genes and thus potentially belonged to diarrheagenic and/or extraintestinal pathogenic (ExPEC) pathotypes (Jang et al. 2013, Liu et al. 2018. ...
... The wastes from animal farms and aquaculture farms and the inappropriate use of antibiotics in these farms were suggested as the source of ESBLs as many Asian countries are actively involved in livestock farming and aquaculture (Chen et al. 2016, Assawatheptawee et al. 2017, Nakayama et al. 2017, Zou et al. 2019). Yamashita et al. identified WWTP effluents discharged into receiving water as the source of ESBLs as more ESBL-producing E. coli were recovered from downstream river water, while a study by Runcharoen et al. indicated a hospital as a contributor of ESBLs in water as almost all the ESBL-positive E. coli were recovered near the hospital (Runcharoen et al. 2017, Yamashita et al. 2017. ...
Surface water receives large quantities of wastes from human and animal sources, thus providing an ideal setting for the accumulation, development, and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The rapid spread of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, particularly E. coli and K. pneumoniae, is a growing threat to public health, and there have been increasing reports on the prevalence and abundance of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in aquatic environments all over the globe. The objective of this review is to understand the extent of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae contamination in aquatic environments and to enhance our knowledge on the role of the freshwater environment as a reservoir and transmission routes for these bacteria. In this review, we present the prevalence and distribution of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and their ESBL genes in the freshwater environment, potential sources of these bacteria in the aquatic environment, as well as their potential drivers in the environment, including anthropogenic and environmental factors.
... The detection and prevalence (24; 48%) of TEM-H gene in the E. coli suggests that the gene is responsible for the phenotypic resistance noticed in the isolates. Nonetheless, the null detection of ampC, CTX-M, and SHV indicates that the isolates did not habour the genes or they are plasmid-encoded in Assawatheptawee et al. (2017) and Titilawo et al. (2015a) detected ampC gene in E. coli from aquatic environments in Northern Thailand and Southwestern Nigeria, respectively. Generally in E. coli, ampC gene encoded in the chromosome is constitutively low or poorly expressed but non-inducible, and same determinants located on mobile genetic plasmid favours overproduction of betalactamases and are easily transmitted within and between different bacterial species and hosts (Hanson and Sanders 1999;Haenni et al. 2014). ...
Multidrug resistance in groundwater contaminants is becoming a major health concern in developing countries, especially the ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli. This study aimed at profiling antibiotic resistance and possible detection of ampicillin-resistant genes in Escherichia coli obtained from forty groundwater samples (20 each of boreholes and wells) in Osogbo metropolis, Southwest Nigeria. Grab sampling was done using 1L sterile plastic bottles, isolation of E. coli was performed using pour plate technique on eosin methylene blue agar and their identity confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using uidA gene. Antibiotics susceptibility test of the isolates to ten commercially available antibiotics was done following Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion technique. Multiple antibiotic resistant phenotypes (MARPs) and indexing (MARI) were estimated accordingly. The possible presence of Ctx-M, SHV, ampC, and TEM-H resistant genes in all ampicillin-resistant E. coli were checked for using PCR. All the 55 presumptive E. coli isolates, 35 from 10 boreholes and 20 from 7 wells, were uidA positive. Overall, 50 (91%) of the E. coli were resistant to ampicillin, followed by trimethoprim and ertapenem 43 (78%), doxycycline 40 (73%), ceftazidime 38 (69%), and tetracycline 37 (67%). Of the 55 E. coli isolates, only 1 was resistant to 2 drugs (AK-AMP), others were multi-resistant, ranging from 4 to 9 drugs, with the highest MARP (9) being AMP–CAZ–ETP–S–AK–DO–TE–W–C. MARI also between 0.4 and 0.9, above the 0.2 acceptable limit. Exactly 24 (48%) of the phenotypically ampicillin-resistant E. coli isolates harboured TEM-H only. The existence of multidrug-resistant E. coli and TEM-H resistant gene in the groundwater pose a huge threat to all and sundry who rely heavily on this source of water for diverse purposes. Hence, adequate monitoring and antimicrobial resistance surveillance of groundwater bodies is advocated to safeguard public health.
... Various b-lactamase genes were detected in the canals of Bangkok (Table 3). The percentage was considerably higher than the b-lactamase genes (bla CTX-M group and bla TEM ) detected in canals in the United States [28] and lower than that of the bla CTX-M1 group detected in the aquatic environment including rivers and canals in the Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan provinces of Thailand [29]. The diversity and abundance of ARGs is thought to be mainly influenced by local/national parameters related to sanitation and health [30]. ...
Introduction
In contrast to the study in other part of the world, information about characteristics of plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in Enterobacteriaceae derived from environmental water in tropical Asian countries including Thailand is limited. This study, therefore, aimed to gain insight into genetic information of antimicrobial resistance in environmental water in Thailand.
Methods
Coliform bacteria were isolated from environmental water collected at 20 locations in Thailand and identified. Then, susceptibility profiles to ampicillin, cefazoline, cefotaxime, kanamycin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid were assessed. In addition, antimicrobial resistant genes integrons, and replicon types were analyzed. And furthermore, plasmids carrying blaTEM and tetM were identified by S1-PFGE analysis and confirmed transmissibility by transconjugation experiments.
Results
In 130 coliform bacteria isolated, 89 were resistant to cefazoline while 41 isolates were susceptible. Cefazoline-resistant coliform bacteria were found to be significantly resistant to cefotaxime and tetracycline as compared to susceptible isolates. Hence, blaTEM and tetM correlating with β-lactam antibiotics and tetracycline, respectively, were analyzed found to co-localize on the IncFrepB plasmids in isolates from pig farms’ wastewater by S1-PFGE analysis. And furthermore, transmissibility of the plasmids was confirmed.
Conclusions
Results obtained in this study suggested that ARGs in coliform bacteria may have been spreading on the farm via IncFrepB plasmids. Hence, appropriate use of antimicrobials and good hygiene management on the farm are required to prevent the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria.
... This observation reflects the current trend of CTX-M (cefotaximase-Munich) enzymes as the dominant type of enzymes among ESBL-producing E. coli, of which CTX-M-15 is most widely distributed in community and hospitals Letters in Applied Microbiology 71, 3--25 © 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology (Canton and Coque 2006;Coque et al. 2008). Escherichia coli ST131, which is a pandemic E. coli strain that can be MDR, and is globally disseminated causing hospital and community-acquired infections around the world, were also prevalent in surface water (Nicolas-Chanoine et al. 2008;Johnson et al. 2010;Hu et al. 2013;Nicolas-Chanoine et al. 2014;Petty et al. 2014;Assawatheptawee et al. 2017;Jorgensen et al. 2017;Runcharoen et al. 2017;Cho et al. 2018). ...
Surface water is prone to bacterial contamination as it receives wastes and pollutants from human and animal sources, and contaminated water may expose local populations to health risks. This review provides a brief overview on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AR) phenotypes of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus, found in natural freshwaters. These bacteria are frequently detected in surface waters, sometimes as etiological agents of waterborne infections, and AR strains are not uncommonly identified in both developed and developing countries. Data relating to Salmonella, E. coli, and Enterococcus present in environmental water are lacking, and in order to understand their development and dissemination using the One Health approach, understanding the prevalence, distribution, and characteristics of the bacteria present in surface water as well as their potential sources is important. Furthermore, AR bacteria in natural watersheds are not well investigated and their impact on human health and food safety are not well understood. As surface water is a receptacle for AR bacteria from human and animal sources and a vehicle for their dissemination, this is a crucial data‐gap in understanding AR and minimizing its spread. For this review, Salmonella, E. coli, and Enterococcus were chosen to evaluate the presence of primary pathogens and opportunistic pathogens as well as to monitor AR trends in the environmental water. Studies around the world have demonstrated the widespread distribution of pathogenic and AR bacteria in surface waters of both developing and developed countries, confirming the importance of environmental waters as a reservoir for these bacteria and the need for more attention on the environmental bacteria for emerging AR.
... Nevertheless, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and extensive distribution of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. In Microbes and Environments, recent studies reported the occurrence and distribution of plausible pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., Salmonella sp., and Mycobacterium sp.) as well as their antibiotic resistance capabilities and genetic elements through the extensive cultivation and isolation of the targeted organisms (2,5,25,34,42,50). For example, Chirila et al. investigated E. coli isolated from young animals between 1980-2016, and revealed apparent increases in antibiotic resistance in pathogenic E. coli producing shiga toxin (5). ...
... Farm animals, including cows, pigs, and horses, can also harbor various ARB, some of which are pathogenic to humans (8,33,55). These ARB/ARGs contaminate surrounding and downstream environments (3,30). Wildlife can also contribute to the spread of ARB/ARGs. ...
... Our data showed that bla CTX-M-55 (54.1%) is the most prevalent followed by bla CTX-M-14 (28.3%) and bla CTX-M-15 (8.8%). These results were in agreement with the fact that bla CTX-M-55 , bla and bla CTX-M-15 were commonly found in clinical specimens and environments in Thailand (Kiratisin et al., 2008;Assawatheptawee et al., 2017;Runcharoen et al., 2017). bla CTX-M -positive E. coli was also common in backyard chickens and pigs in other Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, and India (Ueda et al., 2015;Samanta et al., 2015a;Li et al., 2016). ...
... Of the B2 group, E. coli ST131 is an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) that commonly caused community-acquired infections in different countries (Banerjee et al., 2013;Ciesielczuk et al., 2016) and ST131 is now distributed in animals and environments worldwide (Nicolas-Chanoine et al., 2014). Recent studies in Thailand have identified ST131 in natural water resources, human clinical specimen, healthy population, and chicken meat (Netikul et al., 2014;Assawatheptawee et al., 2017;Niumsup et al., 2018;Tansawai et al., 2018). In the present study, 4 isolates, from different farms, were identified as bla CTX-M-27positive E. coli B2-ST131 (2, 1, and 1 isolate from chicken, human and soil, respectively) ( Figure 3). ...
Food-producing animals, including poultry, have been considered as potential sources of extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. This study investigates the occurrence and dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli among backyard poultry farms, farmers, and environments in Northern Thailand. Antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes, resistant determinants, genotypic characterizations, and spread of these isolates were studied. Fecal samples from poultry, farmers, and environments were captured from 27 farms. In total, 587 samples were collected and the overall 27.1% (159/587) of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were obtained. Among these, ESBL-producing E. coli was isolated from 50% (farmers), 25.9% poultry (24.9% chicken and 36.6% duck) of the fecal samples, and 25.0% of the environmental samples. All isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance, most frequently to ≥ 10 different antimicrobial agents. Molecular analysis of ESBL-encoding genes showed that the predominant gene was blaCTX-M-55 (54.1%), followed by blaCTX-M-14 (28.3%), and blaCTX-M-15 (8.8%). blaCTX-M-27 (3.8%) and blaCTX-M-65 (0.6%) were also detected at low frequencies. Conjugation assays demonstrated that blaCTX-M could be transferred to E. coli J53 with the transfer frequencies ranging from 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻². Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed diverse genotypes, however, identical and closely related PFGE profiles were detected among isolates within and between farms, suggesting the clonal transmission. In addition, our study identified 4 blaCTX-M-27-positive E. coli B2-ST131 isolates. Interestingly, two ST131 isolates, obtained from a farmer and chicken in the same area, showed closely related PFGE profiles. Our results suggest the presence and spread of ESBL-producing E. coli between backyard poultry farms, farmers, and environments in Thailand.
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria (FCB) and deteriorated water quality are prevalent problems in various coastal ecosystems leading to public health concerns. Here, we evaluated the contamination of FCB and its member, Escherichia coli, in the Tapi-Phumduang River system and Bandon Bay in Thailand, and the accumulation of FCB in oysters cultured therein. The results show significantly higher FCB and E. coli in river water than in seawater, substantiating the river serves as a conduit for bacterial delivery to the bay. FCB discharged from the river to the bay during low tide was approximately 4-fold higher than during high tide. The concentrations of FCB in seawater (<79 MPN/100 mL) and oysters (<187 MPN/100 g) from the Bandon Bay are within regulation limits. Statistical analysis shows that various environmental parameters including salinity, turbidity, and DSi are strongly correlated with bacterial pollutants in river water, whereas bacterial pollutants in bay water are strongly correlated with salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen and dissolved silicate. Hence, salinity and turbidity can be used as proxies for bacterial pollution monitoring in the river, and salinity is a good proxy for indicating bacterial contamination in Bandon Bay. Thus, these two proxies may assist in a rapid assessment of bacterial pollution in aquatic environments.
Antimicrobial resistance has been a serious and complex issue for over a decade. Although research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has mainly focused on clinical and animal samples as essential for treatment, the AMR situation in aquatic environments may vary and have complicated patterns according to geographical area. Therefore, this study aimed to examine recent literature on the current situation and identify gaps in the AMR research on freshwater, seawater, and wastewater in Southeast Asia. The PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched for relevant publications published from January 2013 to June 2023 that focused on antimicrobial resistance bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) among water sources. Based on the inclusion criteria, the final screening included 41 studies, with acceptable agreement assessed using Cohen's inter-examiner kappa equal to 0.866. This review found that 23 out of 41 included studies investigated ARGs and ARB reservoirs in freshwater rather than in seawater and wastewater, and it frequently found that Escherichia coli was a predominant indicator in AMR detection conducted by both phenotypic and genotypic methods. Different ARGs, such as blaTEM, sul1, and tetA genes, were found to be at a high prevalence in wastewater, freshwater, and seawater. Existing evidence highlights the importance of wastewater management and constant water monitoring in preventing AMR dissemination and strengthening effective mitigation strategies. This review may be beneficial for updating current evidence and providing a framework for spreading ARB and ARGs, particularly region-specific water sources. Future AMR research should include samples from various water systems, such as drinking water or seawater, to generate contextually appropriate results. Robust evidence regarding standard detection methods is required for prospective-era work to raise practical policies and alerts for developing microbial source tracking and identifying sources of contamination-specific indicators in aquatic environment markers.
