mcr-1 in Enterobacteriaceae from Companion Animals,Beijing, China, 2012–2016

To investigate the prevalence of the recently emerging colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in Enterobacteriaceae among companion animals, we examined 566 isolates collected from cats and dogs in Beijing, China, during 2012–2016. Of these isolates, 49 (8.7%) were mcr-1–positiv

Integrated aquaculture contributes to the transfer of mcr-1 between animals and humans via the aquaculture supply chain

Background Since its discovery in 2015, the mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-1 has been reported in bacteria from > 50 countries. Although aquaculture-associated bacteria may act as a significant reservoir for colistin resistance, systematic investigations of mcr-1 in the aquaculture supply chain are scarce. Objectives We investigated the presence of colistin resistance determinants in the aquaculture supply chain in south China and determined their characteristics and relationships. Methods A total of 250 samples were collected from a duck-fish integrated fishery, slaughter house, and market in Guangdong Province, China, in July 2017. Colistin-resistant bacteria were isolated on colistin-supplemented CHROMagar Orientation plates, and the species were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight assay. The presence of mcr genes was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis. We examined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 16 antimicrobial agents against the isolates using agar diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to explore the molecular characteristics and relationships of mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli (MCRPEC). Results Overall, 143 (57.2%) colistin-resistant bacteria were isolated, of which, 56 (22.4%, including 54 Escherichia coli and two Klebsiella pneumoniae) and four Aeromonas species were positive for mcr-1 and mcr-3, respectively. The animal-derived MCRPEC were significantly more prevalent in integrated fishery samples (40.0%) than those in market (4.8%, P 90%) but were susceptible to carbapenems and tigecycline. WGS analysis suggested that mcr-1 was mainly contained on plasmids, including IncHI2 (29.6%), IncI2 (27.8%), IncX4 (14.8%), and IncP (11.1%). Genomic analysis suggested mcr-1 transmission via the aquatic food chain. Conclusions MCRPEC were highly prevalent in the aquaculture supply chain, with the isolates showing resistance to most antibiotics. The data suggested mcr-1 could be transferred to humans via the aquatic food chain. Taking the “One Health” perspective, aquaculture should be incorporated into systematic surveillance programs with animal, human, and environmental monitoring

Borehole Protection Technology of Screen Pipes for Gas Drainage Boreholes in Soft Coal Seams

In this paper, research was carried out on borehole protection technology using screen pipes, aiming to address the problems of gas drainage borehole collapse and low gas drainage efficiency in soft coal seams, which have low gas permeability and high gas content. An experiment was conducted to study the compressive resistance and borehole protection effects of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) screen pipes with different sieve opening spacings. The optimal screen pipe material and sieve opening spacing were determined. The borehole protection effect and gas drainage efficiency using three borehole protection methods, namely, bare boreholes, traditional PVC screen pipes, and new ABS screen pipes, were compared and studied on site, and the influence of pipe diameter on borehole protection efficiency was revealed. The results show that the compressive resistance and borehole protection effects of the three types of screen pipes are in the following order: PVC < PP < ABS. ABS screen pipes can more effectively inhibit boreholes from collapse, and the best borehole protection is achieved with a sieve opening spacing of 50 mm. The field tests showed that the gas drainage concentration of the bare borehole in the creep deceleration stage was 113% higher than that of the borehole protected by the ABS screen pipe and 255% higher than that of the borehole with the PVC screen pipe. The screen pipe began to play a role in borehole protection at the beginning of the stable working stage, as the borehole wall began to deform and collapse. On the 30th day of gas drainage, the gas drainage concentration of the borehole installed with the ABS screen pipe was about 9 times that of the bare borehole due to the collapse and blockage of the bare borehole. The new ABS screen pipe with an outer diameter of 40 mm and a sieve opening spacing of 50 mm had a better borehole protection effect and gas drainage efficiency than the traditional PVC pipe. Proper sizing of the screen pipe diameter can improve borehole service life and gas drainage efficiency. The research results are of great significance for solving the problem of gas drainage borehole instability and for improving gas drainage efficiency in soft coal seams

Prevalence and genetic analysis of mcr-3-Positive aeromonas species from humans, retail meat, and environmental water samples

The mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-3 is globally disseminated in both Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonas species, with the latter potentially serving as a reservoir for this gene. Here, we investigated the prevalence of mcr-3 in rectal swabs from humans, in food-producing animals and their products, and in the aquatic environment, and we investigated the genetic relationships between the mcr-3-positive isolates. An enriched broth screening method was used to detect mcr-3 in samples, and species identification of isolates from positive samples was carried out by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry and shotgun sequencing. All mcr-3-positive isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation, and whole-genome sequencing. Ten Aeromonas isolates, including 2 from human rectal swabs, 1 from pork, 3 from chicken meat, and 4 from the aquatic environment, were positive for mcr-3, but only 2 showed resistance to colistin. In addition to the mcr-3 variants identified previously (the novel variants were termed mcr-3.13 to mcr-3.18), all isolates harbored mcr-3-like genes downstream of the mcr-3 variants. The MCR-3.13 to MCR-3.18 proteins exhibited only 89.2% to 96.1% amino acid identity to the original MCR-3 protein. Whole-genome sequence analysis indicated diversity within the genetic environments of mcr-3-positive Aeromonas isolates and possible transmission between different sources in China and even worldwide. Close relationships between mcr-3-positive and mcr-3-negative Aeromonas isolates suggested that mcr-3 might be common in Aeromonas species, which are not inherent hosts of mcr-3 but may act as an important reservoir of this mobile colistin resistance gene