Potential sources and characteristic occurrence of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene-harbouring bacteria recovered from the poultry sector: a literature synthesis specific to high-income countries

Understanding the sources, prevalence, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of mcr gene-harbouring bacteria (MGHB) in the poultry sector is crucial to supplement existing information. Through this, the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (PMCR) could be tackled to improve food safety and reduce public health risks. Therefore, we conducted a literature synthesis of potential sources and characteristic occurrence of MGHB recovered from the poultry sector specific to the high-income countries (HICs). Colistin (COL) is a last-resort antibiotic used for treating deadly infections. For more than 60 years, COL has been used in the poultry sector globally, including the HICs. The emergence and rapid spread of mobile COL resistance (mcr) genes threaten the clinical use of COL. Currently, ten mcr genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) have been described. By horizontal and vertical transfer, the mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, mcr-5, and mcr-9 genes have disseminated in the poultry sector in HICs, thus posing a grave danger to animal and human health, as harboured by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella species, and Aeromonas isolates. Conjugative and non-conjugative plasmids are the major backbones for mcr in poultry isolates from HICs. The mcr-1, mcr-3 and mcr-9 have been integrated into the chromosome, making them persist among the clones. Transposons, insertion sequences (IS), especially ISApl1 located downstream and upstream of mcr, and integrons also drive the COL resistance in isolates recovered from the poultry sector in HICs. Genes coding multi-and extensive-drug resistance and virulence factors are often co-carried with mcr on chromosome and plasmids in poultry isolates. Transmission of mcr to/among poultry strains in HICs is clonally unrestricted. Additionally, the contact with poultry birds, manure, meat/egg, farmer’s wears/farm equipment, consumption of contaminated poultry meat/egg and associated products, and trade of poultry-related products continue to serve as transmission routes of MGHB in HICs. Indeed, the policymakers, especially those involved in antimicrobial resistance and agricultural and poultry sector stakeholders-clinical microbiologists, farmers, veterinarians, occupational health clinicians and related specialists, consumers, and the general public will find this current literature synthesis very useful.

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Backyard Chicken Farming Role in Supplementing Household Economy of District Quetta, Pakistan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v8i3.568-572.2889 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 568

Author(s):

Kamran Baseer Achakzai ◽

Muhammad Abbas Shah ◽

Ramla Achakzai ◽

Ghulam Hussain Kakar

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Capital Investment ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Cash Income ◽

Household Economy ◽

Backyard Poultry ◽

Poultry Birds ◽

Backyard Chicken ◽

Meat And Eggs ◽

Poultry Farming

Backyard chicken farming is as an effective tool for poverty reduction in rural areas, by providing living to resource poor communities; it is an important source of extra cash income other than eggs and meat for family consumption. The present study was carried out to assess the role of backyard poultry farming in supplementing household economy of rural farmers dwelling in district Quetta, Pakistan. Information from ninety-nine randomly selected female backyard poultry farmers were gathered during November 2016 to March 2017. Owing to previous government and non-government interventions backyard poultry keeping was found as an established practice. Women were found the main custodian of backyard poultry birds and consequently were the main beneficiary of the activity. Poultry birds of Fayoumi and Golden / Rhode Island Red (RIR) breeds were the main types. Majority of the farmers reared these birds under scavenging conditions in combination with feeding on household left over dry bread (52%); most of the respondents (62%) were taking care of the birds by themselves which resulted in overall low production cost. Income included the earning received from sale of birds, eggs and the home consumption of poultry meat and eggs. Net income per annum per household was estimated as Pakistani Rupee (PKR) 79290/- (US$ 566). The estimated Rank Based Quotients (R.B.Q) based on farmers perception disclosed backyard poultry keeping as an important domestic source of meat and eggs with almost no or very little capital investment, ranked (I, 80%) followed by a substantial source of supplementary income and was ranked (II, 79%). Amongst the problems, disease outbreaks were the most prevailing problem (I, 90%) followed by unavailability of vaccines (II, 85%). The backyard poultry farming generated subsistence income and provided high quality valuable food that improved household nutrition.

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The changing epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Italy: toward polyclonal evolution with emergence of high-risk lineages

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy ◽

10.1093/jac/dkaa431 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Vincenzo Di Pilato ◽

Giulia Errico ◽

Monica Monaco ◽

Tommaso Giani ◽

Maria Del Grosso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

High Risk ◽

Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽

Close Association ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Colistin Resistance ◽

Carbapenem Resistant ◽

Invasive Infections ◽

Encoding Gene ◽

Genotypic Characteristics

Abstract Background Previous studies showed that the epidemic of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP) observed in Italy since 2010 was sustained mostly by strains of clonal group (CG) 258 producing KPC-type carbapenemases. In the framework of the National Antibiotic-Resistance Surveillance (AR-ISS), a countrywide survey was conducted in 2016 to explore the evolution of the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of CR-KP isolates. Methods From March to July 2016, hospital laboratories participating in AR-ISS were requested to provide consecutive, non-duplicated CR-KP (meropenem and/or imipenem MIC >1 mg/L) from invasive infections. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined according to EUCAST recommendations. A WGS approach was adopted to characterize the isolates by investigating phylogeny, resistome and virulome. Results Twenty-four laboratories provided 157 CR-KP isolates, of which 156 were confirmed as K. pneumoniae sensu stricto by WGS and found to carry at least one carbapenemase-encoding gene, corresponding in most cases (96.1%) to blaKPC. MLST- and SNP-based phylogeny revealed that 87.8% of the isolates clustered in four major lineages: CG258 (47.4%), with ST512 as the most common clone, CG307 (19.9%), ST101 (15.4%) and ST395 (5.1%). A close association was identified between lineages and antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes, virulence traits and capsular types. Colistin resistance, mainly associated with mgrB mutations, was common in all major lineages except ST395. Conclusions This WGS-based survey showed that, although CG258 remained the most common CR-KP lineage in Italy, a polyclonal population has emerged with the spread of the new high-risk lineages CG307, ST101 and ST395, while KPC remained the most common carbapenemase.

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Occurrence and Characteristics of Mobile Colistin Resistance (mcr) Gene-Containing Isolates from the Environment: A Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17031028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 1028 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Madubuike Umunna Anyanwu ◽

Ishmael Festus Jaja ◽

Obichukwu Chisom Nwobi

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Drug Resistance ◽

Environmental Samples ◽

Insertion Sequences ◽

Environmental Isolates ◽

Colistin Resistance ◽

Public Places ◽

Extensive Drug Resistance ◽

Class 1 ◽

Genes Encoding

The emergence and spread of mobile colistin (COL) resistance (mcr) genes jeopardize the efficacy of COL, a last resort antibiotic for treating deadly infections. COL has been used in livestock for decades globally. Bacteria have mobilized mcr genes (mcr-1 to mcr-9). Mcr-gene-containing bacteria (MGCB) have disseminated by horizontal/lateral transfer into diverse ecosystems, including aquatic, soil, botanical, wildlife, animal environment, and public places. The mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-5, mcr-7, and mcr-8 have been detected in isolates from and/or directly in environmental samples. These genes are harboured by Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Kluyvera, Aeromonas, Providencia, and Raulotella isolates. Different conjugative and non-conjugative plasmids form the backbones for mcr in these isolates, but mcr have also been integrated into the chromosome of some strains. Insertion sequences (IS) (especially ISApl1) located upstream or downstream of mcr, class 1–3 integrons, and transposons are other drivers of mcr in the environment. Genes encoding multi-/extensive-drug resistance and virulence are often co-located with mcr on plasmids in environmental isolates. Transmission of mcr to/among environmental strains is clonally unrestricted. Contact with the mcr-containing reservoirs, consumption of contaminated animal-/plant-based foods or water, international animal-/plant-based food trades and travel, are routes for transmission of MGCB.

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WGS Analysis of Clonal and Plasmidic Epidemiology of Colistin-Resistance Mediated by mcr Genes in the Poultry Sector in Lebanon

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.624194 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Hiba Al-Mir ◽

Marwan Osman ◽

Antoine Drapeau ◽

Monzer Hamze ◽

Jean-Yves Madec ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Poultry Meat ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Colistin Resistance ◽

Whole Genome Analysis ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

E Coli ◽

Main Driver ◽

Comprehensive Picture ◽

Wide Dissemination ◽

Efficient Transfer

Poultry and poultry meat are important contributors to the global antimicrobial burden. Unregulated and illegal use of extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) in this sector has long been identified as a major cause of massive spread of ESC-resistant Escherichia coli, and colistin usage is considered a main driver of plasmid-mediated mcr genes dissemination. In Lebanon, the first mcr-1-positive E. coli found in poultry dates back to 2015, followed by a few reports of mcr-1-positive E. coli in poultry, swine, humans, and the environment. On the contrary, a comprehensive picture of the population structure of mcr-1-positive E. coli and mcr-1-bearing plasmids carrying the mcr-1 gene using whole-genome analysis is largely lacking. This study reports the prevalence of mcr-1-positive E. coli in poultry originating from 32 farms across three Lebanese governorates and slaughtered in the same place. We report 27/32 (84.4%) mcr-1 positive farms, leading to a total of 84 non-duplicate E. coli collected, of which 62 presented the mcr-1 gene. Numerous associated resistances were identified, including to ESC through the presence of blaCTX–M or blaCMY genes. The mcr-1 gene was mostly carried by IncX4 (n = 36) and IncI2 (n = 24) plasmids, which are both known for their efficient transfer capacities. A high genetic diversity was detected, arguing for the lack of contamination during the slaughter process. ST744 and ST1011 were the most widely identified clones, which have been both regularly associated to mcr-1-carrying E. coli and to the poultry sector. The wide dissemination of colistin-resistance, coupled to resistances to ESC and numerous other molecules, should urge authorities to implement efficient guidelines for the use of antibiotics in the poultry sector in Lebanon.

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Prevalence and Traits of Mobile Colistin Resistance Gene Harbouring Isolates from Different Ecosystems in Africa

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2021/6630379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-20

Author(s):

Madubuike Umunna Anyanwu ◽

Charles Odilichukwu R. Okpala ◽

Kennedy Foinkfu Chah ◽

Vincent Shodeinde Shoyinka

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Current Status ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Insertion Sequences ◽

Plant Origin ◽

Colistin Resistance ◽

Food Trade ◽

Extensive Drug Resistance ◽

Class 1

The mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene threatens the efficacy of colistin (COL), a last-line antibiotic used in treating deadly infections. For more than six decades, COL is used in livestock around the globe, including Africa. The use of critically important antimicrobial agents, like COL, is largely unregulated in Africa, and many other factors militate against effective antimicrobial stewardship in the continent. Currently, ten mcr genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) have been described. In Africa, mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-5, mcr-8, and mcr-9 have been detected in isolates from humans, animals, foods of animal origin, and the environment. These genes are harboured by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Different conjugative and nonconjugative plasmids form the backbone for mcr in these isolates; however, mcr-1 and mcr-3 have also been integrated into the chromosome of some African strains. Insertion sequences (ISs) (especially ISApl1), either located upstream or downstream of mcr, class 1 integrons, and transposons, are drivers of mcr in Africa. Genes coding multi/extensive drug resistance and virulence are colocated with mcr on plasmids in African strains. Transmission of mcr to/among African strains is nonclonal. Contact with mcr-habouring reservoirs, the consumption of contaminated foods of animal/plant origin or fluid, animal-/plant-based food trade and travel serve as exportation, importation, and transmission routes of mcr gene-containing bacteria in Africa. Herein, the current status of plasmid-mediated COL resistance in humans, food-producing animals, foods of animal origin, and environment in Africa is discussed.

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Hamburgers and Broiler Chickens as Potential Sources of Human Campylobacter Enteritis

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-47.2.96 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 96-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

C. O. GILL ◽

LYNDA M. HARRIS

Keyword(s):

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

The Body ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Ground Meat ◽

Potential Sources ◽

Commercial Chickens

Freezing to −18°C for 7 d reduced numbers of Campylobacter jejuni in artificially contaminated hamburgers by one log cycle. Minimal cooking rapidly eliminated the organism. No Campylobacters were detected in 50 samples of commercial ground meat. Ground meat dishes such as hamburgers are therefore unlikely vectors for human Campylobacter enteritis. Freezing of artificially contaminated chicken carcasses greatly reduced or eliminated C. jejuni initially present at 105 cells/carcass. Minimal cooking for 20 min at 190°C eliminated all C. jejuni unless close pressing of limbs to the body preserved areas of uncooked skin. With commercial carcasses, 15/22 chilled and 6/37 frozen carcasses were contaminated with C. jejuni, maximum numbers being 105 and 103/carcass, respectively. Significant recontamination with C. jejuni could not be obtained by unhygienic handling after cooking of commercial chickens that had been moderately contaminated (103 to 104 cells/carcass), but substantial recontamination occurred with similar handling of carcasses that had initial heavy artificial contamination (106 cells/carcass). The limited circumstances under which cooked poultry meat is likely to carry C. jejuni in significant numbers suggest a need for caution in ascribing outbreaks of Campylobacter enteritis to consumption of poultry.

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Heavy metal residues in offals, muscle and eggs of intensively reared poultry birds in Umuahia, Abia State

Journal of Sustainable Veterinary and Allied Sciences ◽

10.54328/covm/josvas.2021.013 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 15-19

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Health Concern ◽

Thigh Muscle ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Poultry Products ◽

Poultry Birds ◽

Permissible Levels ◽

The Mean ◽

Kidney Liver

Poultry meat and poultry products have gradually become delicacy in Nigeria and are used in most celebrations for entertainment. Therefore there is the need for constant monitoring to ensure they are wholesome and suitable for human consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and concentrations of Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) in the thigh muscle and offals (kidney, liver and gizzard) of both broilers and layers reared under intensive system of management using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). In both broilers and layers, all meat and offal samples had concentrations of Mn and Fe that were above the maximum permissible levels (MPL) stipulated by FAO/WHO. In layers, the concentrations of Mn (5.276 ± 0.023mg/kg) and Fe (7.067 ± 0.569mg/kg) were highest in the liver. The concentration of Zn (5.039 ± 0.009mg/kg) was found to be highest in the kidney. In broilers, Mn (5.105 ± 0.053mg/kg) accumulated more in the thigh muscle than any other organ whereas the highest concentration of Fe (6.256 ± 0.246 mg/kg) was found in the liver. The mean concentration of Mn, Zn and Fe in eggs was 5.081 ± 0.033, 5.092 ± 0.021 and 7.102 ± 0.146 (mg/kg) respectively. The concentration on Mn in eggs was slightly above the maximum residual limits of 5.0 mg/kg. The high mean concentrations of Mn and Fe found in the study are of great public health concern because these metals are bioaccumulation and with continuous consumption, may pose a serious threat to public health.

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The transmission dynamics of Campylobacter jejuni among broilers in semi-commercial farms in Jordan

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268818003308 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 147 ◽

Author(s):

M. I. Neves ◽

I. Malkawi ◽

M. Walker ◽

A. Alaboudi ◽

E. Abu-Basha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Production Systems ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

High Income ◽

Transmission Dynamics ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Model Framework ◽

Commercial Farms

AbstractCampylobacter is the leading cause of foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis in humans worldwide, often associated with the consumption of undercooked poultry. In Jordan, the majority of broiler chicken production occurs in semi-commercial farms, where poor housing conditions and low bio-security are likely to promote campylobacter colonisation. While several studies provided estimates of the key parameters describing the within-flock transmission dynamics of campylobacter in typical high-income countries settings, these data are not available for Jordan and Middle-East in general. A Bayesian model framework was applied to a longitudinal dataset on Campylobacter jejuni infection in a Jordan flock to quantify the transmission rate of C. jejuni in broilers within the farm, the day when the flock first became infected, and the within-flock prevalence (WFP) at clearance. Infection with C. jejuni is most likely to have occurred during the first 8 days of the production cycle, followed by a transmission rate value of 0.13 new infections caused by one infected bird/day (95% CI 0.11–0.17), and a WFP at clearance of 34% (95% CI 0.24–0.47). Our results differ from published studies conducted in intensive poultry production systems in high-income countries but are well aligned with the expectations obtained by means of structured questionnaires submitted to academics with expertise on campylobacter in Jordan. This study provides for the first time the most likely estimates and credible intervals of key epidemiological parameters driving the dynamics of C. jejuni infection in broiler production systems commonly found in Jordan and the Middle-East and could be used to inform Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment models aimed to assess the risk of human exposure/infection to campylobacter through consumption of poultry meat.

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