Detection of Extended- Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing Escherichia coli from mesenteric lymph nodes of wild boars (Sus scrofa)

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are increasing in several European countries, including Italy. In areas with intensive animal farming, like the Italian Emilia-Romagna region, they are likely to be exposed to antimicrobialresistant (AMR) bacteria of livestock origin. In 2017-2018, 108 mesenteric lymph nodes samples were collected from 108 wild boars hunted in Parma province, Emilia-Romagna region, to be tested for ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli. One isolate (WB-21L) out of 108 (0.9%) was phenotypically confirmed as ESBLproducing E. coli. The strain WB-21L was tested by PCR for the genes blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaAmpC, blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaOXA-48, blaSPM, blaBIC, blaSIM, blaDIM, blaGIM, blaAIM, resulting positive for TEM β-lactamase. Resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, streptomycin, sulfasomidine, tetracycline and trimethoprim confirmed the multi-resistance nature of the strain WB-21L. Nine E. coli isolates showed resistance to meropenem by the Kirby Bauer test but none of them showed Meropenem MIC values indicative of resistance. In conclusion, the present study shows the presence of ESBL E. coli in wild boars and the possible risk of transfer to game meat handlers and consumers. Future studies are needed to better evaluate the sources of AMR bacteria in wildlife

Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying multiple alleles of antigen 43-encoding gene of Escherichia coli associated with biofilm formation

A clinical strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae typed as sequence type 307 carrying three different alleles of the flu gene encoding the Escherichia coli virulence factor antigen 43 associated with biofilm formation was detected and characterized. The flu alleles are located in the chromosome inside putative integrative conjugative elements. The strain displays the phenotypes associated with Ag43, i.e. bi-phasic colony morphology and enhanced biofilm production. Furthermore, the strain produces low amount of capsule known to affect Ag43 function. Analysis of 1431 worldwide deposited genomes revealed that 3.7% Klebsiella pneumoniae carry one or two flu alleles

Extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from intensive care units in Northern Italy: a genomic approach to characterize new sequence types.

Aim: This study aims to characterize clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii with an extensively drug-resistant phenotype. Methods: VITEK® 2, Etest® method and broth microdilution method for colistin were used. PCR analysis and multilocus sequence typing Pasteur scheme were performed to identify bla-OXA genes and genetic relatedness, respectively. Whole genome sequencing analysis was used to characterize three isolates. Results: All the isolates were susceptible only to polymyxins. blaOXA-23-like gene was the only acquired carbapenemase gene in the 88.2% of the isolates. Multilocus sequence typing identified various sequence types: ST2, ST19, ST195, ST577 and ST632. Two new sequence types, namely, ST1279 and ST1280, were detected by whole genome sequencing. Conclusion: This study showed that carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates causing infections in intensive care units almost exclusively produce OXA-23, underlining their frequent spread in Italy

Emergence of Pandemic Clonal Lineage Sequence Types 131 and 69 of Extraintestinal Escherichia coli as a Cause of Meningitis: Is It Time To Revise Molecular Assays?

: Two Escherichia coli strains, respectively responsible for neonatal and adult meningitis, were isolated and their phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility and genomic features characterized by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Multiplex real-time PCR targeting the principal microorganisms involved in meningitis etiology failed to identify either isolate. Afterwards, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was used to identify the isolates as E. coli strains. Genomic analysis showed that they belonged to sequence types 131 and 69 (ST131 and ST69). Neither of the isolates harbored the K1 capsular antigen or belonged to other capsular serotypes, but they shared different virulence factors, including ibe genes, responsible for invasion of brain endothelial cells. IMPORTANCE The extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli group is characterized by the presence of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), sepsis-associated E. coli (SEPEC), and neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC). All of these members exhibit many virulence factors, such as lipopolysaccharides, toxins, iron acquisition factors, invasins, fimbriae, and capsules. Urinary infections are the most common infections caused by this group, followed by globally increasing numbers of both community- and nosocomially acquired bloodstream infections, associated with considerable patient morbidity and mortality. Some lineages tend to become dominant; in addition to enhanced fitness, this epidemiological success stems from increased virulence, antibiotic resistance, gut colonization, and greater host-to-host transmission. Our results underline the importance of continuous surveillance of these new emerging lineages and the need to develop new meningitis molecular assay panels able to identify them