Occurrence and characteristics of blaOXA-181-carrying Klebsiella aerogenes from swine in China

Lin Sun; Nan Meng; Hanyun Wang; Zhenyu Wang; Xinan Jiao; Jing Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jgar.2024.04.009

Occurrence and characteristics of bla_OXA-181-carrying Klebsiella aerogenes from swine in China

J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2024 May 17:S2213-7165(24)00087-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2024.04.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Lin Sun¹, Nan Meng², Hanyun Wang², Zhenyu Wang², Xinan Jiao³, Jing Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
² Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
³ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China. Electronic address: jiao@yzu.edu.cn.
⁴ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China. Electronic address: wj1231@yzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38763331
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2024.04.009

Abstract

Objectives: Klebsiella aerogenes is a largely understudied opportunistic pathogen that can cause sepsis and lead to high mortality rates. In this study, we reported the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant bla_OXA-181-carrying Klebsiella aerogenes from swine in China and elucidate their genomic characteristics.

Methods: A total of 126 samples, including 109 swine fecal swabs, 14 environmental samples, and 3 feed samples were collected from a pig farm in China. The samples were enriched with LB broth culture and then inoculated into MacConkey agar plates for bacterial isolation. After PCR detection of carbapenemases genes, the bla_OXA-181-carrying isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequence analysis.

Results: Four Klebsiella aerogenes isolates carrying the bla_OXA-181 gene were obtained from swine fecal samples. All the four strains were belonged to ST438. The bla_OXA-181 genes were located in IncX3-ColKP3 hybrid plasmids with the core genetic structure of IS26-ΔIS3000-ΔISEcp1-bla_OXA-181-ΔlysR-ΔereA-ΔrepA-ISKpn19-tinR-qnrS1-ΔIS2-IS26, which suggests the potential for horizontal transfer and further dissemination of this resistance gene among Enterobacteriaceae and other sources.

Conclusions: This study represents the first instance of OXA-181-producing K. aerogenes being identified from swine feces in China. It is crucial to maintain continuous monitoring and ongoing attention to the detection of K. aerogenes carrying bla_OXA-181 and other resistance genes in pigs.

Keywords: IncX3-ColKP3 hybrid plasmid; Klebsiella aerogenes; bla(OXA-181); carbapenem-resistant.