Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Anti-microbial resistance to β-lactams and prevalence of colicin genes among phylotypes of Escherichia coli isolates from hedgehogs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Maziar Jajarmi 1
Shademan Sahraei 1
Parvin Mohseni 1
Pouneh Hajipour 2
Pouya Reshadi 1
Fatemeh Heydari 3
Baharak Akhtardanesh 3
Niousha Ghanbarpour 4
Majid Rashidi 1
Nasrin Adib 1
Zeinab Abiri 5
Haniyeh Amirinezhad 6

1 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Department of Avian Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran

4 Faculty of Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

5 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran

6 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Baft Branch, Islamic Azad University, Baft, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2024.2029461.4284
Abstract
Several bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus are considered as indicators of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in a wide range of hosts and environments, because they may transfer AMR genes to important pathogenic bacteria. Hedgehog is one of the most important wild species living in urban areas. So, this study aimed to determine AMR against β-lactams and prevalence of colicin genes among various phylotypes of E. coli isolates from hedgehogs in the Kerman, Iran. Totally, 105 E. coli isolates were obtained from 21 hedgehogs (five isolates from each hedgehog). Resistances to the ampicillin (79.10%), cefotaxime (66.70%), and amoxicillin-clavulanate (62.00%) were the most prevalent, and resistance against ceftiofur (39.10%), ceftazidime (39.10%), and ceftriaxone (34.30%) had the lowest prevalence rates. In phenotypic tests, 2.90% of the isolates were extended spectrum β-lactamase producers. The prevalence of β-lactam resistance genes was 26.60% for blaTEM, 3.80% for blaCTX-M, 8.50% for blaSHV, and 1.90% for blaCMY. The frequency of colicin genes, including E1, V, E2-E9, and Ia.Ib was 5.71, 4.76, 10.47, and 11.42%, respectively. All E. coli isolates were negative for 5.10.K, Y.U, and A.N.S4 genes. Phylogenetically, B1 (49.50%), A (40.90%), and D (5.70%) were identified among the isolates, and 3.80% remained unknown. Wildlife could be considered as a bio-marker to determine the environmental dissemination of AMR. Also, hedgehog may be an important reservoir of antibiotic-resistant and non-pathogenic E. coli strains in urban environments. This study highlights the necessity of E. coli surveillance among domestic and wild animals.

Keywords

Beta-lactam resistance
Colicin
Escherichia coli
Hedgehog

Subjects

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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 16, Issue 7
July 2025
Pages 407-414

  • Receive Date 21 June 2024
  • Revise Date 28 December 2024
  • Accept Date 29 December 2024

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