Carbapenemase IncF-borne blaNDM-5 gene in the E. coli ST167 high-risk clone from canine clinical infection, Italy

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology Vol. 256; p. 109045
• Main Authors: Alba, Patricia, Taddei, Roberta, Cordaro, Gessica, Fontana, Maria Cristina, Toschi, Elena, Gaibani, Paolo, Marani, Ilaria, Giacomi, Angelo, Diaconu, Elena L., Iurescia, Manuela, Carfora, Virginia, Franco, Alessia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Carbapenem-resistance; Carbapenemase; Cloning; Dog; E coli; Escherichia coli; Infection; Long-read sequencing; NDM-5; Phages; Plasmid; Plasmids; Public health; Whole Genome Sequencing; Zoonoses; Italy; Plasmid; Infection; NDM-5; Carbapenem-resistance; Escherichia coli; Long-read sequencing; Dog; Whole Genome Sequencing; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109045

•First evidence in Italy of a NDM-5-producing E. coli in companion animals.•Full reconstruction of the blaNDM-5–carrying mosaic plasmid.•Evidence of transmission of blaNDM-5E. coli from humans to animals and vice-versa. The blaNDM-5-producing E. coli Sequence Type (ST)167 high-risk clone is emerging worldwide in human clinical cases, while its presence in companion animals is sporadic and has never been described in Italy. Using a combined Oxford Nanopore (ONT) long-reads and Illumina short-reads sequencing approach, an E. coli ST167 isolated from a hospitalized dog, was in-depth characterized by WGS and the plasmid containing blaNDM-5 was fully reconstructed. The complete sequence of the pMOL008 mosaic plasmid (F36:F31:A4:B1; pMOL008) harbouring blaNDM-5, was resolved and characterized. Moreover, a (pro)phage and IncFII, containing blaCMY-2 and ermB, and IncI2 plasmid types were also identified. pMOL008 was almost identical to blaNDM-5-containing plasmids from E. coli ST167 isolated from Italian human clinical cases and from a Swiss dog and colonized humans. blaNDM-5 was located in a class 1 integron together with aadA2, aac(3)-IIa, mph(A), sul1, tet(A) and dfrA12. The risk of spill-over and spill-back transmission of carbapenem-resistance genes, related plasmids and strains between humans and dogs, represents a Public Health threat and highlights the importance of the One Health approach for the AMR surveillance.