Summary
β-lactamase represents a serious challenge for treatment and public
health, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella
pneumoniae clones have been increasingly reported worldwide.However,
little is known about the prevalence and biological characteristics of
drug-resistant strains in zoos.During a routine surveillance at in
Zhengzhou zoo of China, we reported firstly that the Klebsiella
pneumoniae isolate from healthy Red Kangaroos (Macropus Rufus )
showed severe MDR, especially resistant to Cefuroxime Sodium (MIC,
>64 μg/ml), Ceftriaxone (MIC, >8 μg/ml) and
Cefepime (MIC, >64 μg/ml) and belonged to ST290. The whole
genome sequencing showed that Chrome Chr-M297-1 harboredbla DHA-3, bla SHV-1,bla CTX-M-14, FosA5, dfrA3, sul3 etc.,
pM297-1.1(222,864bp, IncFIB(K)) carried 9 antimicrobial genes includingbla CTX-M-14 , bla TEM-191,
APH(3”)-Ib, APH(6)-Id and QnrS1 etc., and pM297-1.2 (225,763bp,
IncFII(K)) carried 22 antimicrobial genes includingbla TEM-1, bla CTX-M-3,
APH(3’)-Ia, AAC(3)-IIa, AAC(6’)-Ib-cr, aadA16, QnrB2, QnrS1, QacEΔ1,
mphA, sul1, dfrA27, etc. Traceability analysis revealed that these two
plasmids are highly similar to those recovered from human clinical
samples in some southern cities in Sichuan Province,
China(> 99%), suggesting the spread and distribution of
these plasmids in China. Furthermore, two plasmids harboring conjugal
transfer genes facilitate the transmission of antimicrobial genes by
conjugation with E.coli J53. Our research shows that the
transmission and adaptation of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing
ESBLs in zoo environment, suggesting that the zoo is gradually becoming
an important potential reservoir of clinically important drug-resistant
genes.Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of the
emergence and spread of drug-resistant strains in zoo environment in
captive wild animals.
Key words: Multidrug-Resistance, Red Kangaroo, Klebsiella
pneumoniae , Zoo, public health risk