Extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Escherichia coli in common vampire bats Desmodus rotundus and livestock in Peru. (25th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benavides, J. A.; Shiva, C.; Virhuez, M.; Tello, C.; Appelgren, A.; Vendrell, J.; Solassol, J.; Godreuil, S.; Streicker, D. G.
• Is Part Of: Zoonoses and public health. Volume 65:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 454
• Page End: 458
• Publication Date: 2018-03-25
• Subjects: antibiotic resistance -- Desmodus rotundus -- ESBL‐producing Escherichia coli -- multilocus sequence typing -- Peru -- plasmid typing; Zoonoses -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 636.0896959
• DOI: 10.1111/zph.12456
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-1959

Abstract

Summary: Antibiotic resistance mediated by bacterial production of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL) is a global threat to public health. ESBL resistance is most commonly hospital‐acquired; however, infections acquired outside of hospital settings have raised concerns over the role of livestock and wildlife in the zoonotic spread of ESBL‐producing bacteria. Only limited data are available on the circulation of ESBL‐producing bacteria in animals. Here, we report ESBL‐producing Escherichia coli in wild common vampire bats Desmodus rotundus and livestock near Lima, Peru. Molecular analyses revealed that most of this resistance resulted from the expression of bla CTX‐M‐15 genes carried by plasmids, which are disseminating worldwide in hospital settings and have also been observed in healthy children of Peru. Multilocus sequence typing showed a diverse pool of E. coli strains carrying this resistance that were not always host species‐specific, suggesting sharing of strains between species or infection from a common source. This study shows widespread ESBL resistance in wild and domestic animals, supporting animal communities as a potential source of resistance. Future work is needed to elucidate the role of bats in the dissemination of antibiotic‐resistant strains of public health importance and to understand the origin of the observed resistance.