atpD gene sequencing, multidrug resistance traits, virulence-determinants, and antimicrobial resistance genes of emerging XDR and MDR-Proteus mirabilis

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 9476 - 15
• Main Authors: Algammal, Abdelazeem M., Hashem, Hany R., Alfifi, Khyreyah J., Hetta, Helal F., Sheraba, Norhan S., Ramadan, Hazem, El-Tarabili, Reham M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 04.05.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326/1320; 631/326/22; 631/326/421; 631/326/46; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial activity; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Aquatic birds; beta-Lactamases - genetics; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Cephalosporins; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - drug effects; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - genetics; Ducks; Ducks - microbiology; Egypt; Farms; Genes; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Multidrug resistance; Multidrug resistant organisms; Norfloxacin; Opportunist infection; Proteus mirabilis; Proteus mirabilis - drug effects; Proteus mirabilis - genetics; Quinolones; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sulfonamides; Tetracyclines; Virulence; Virulence - genetics; Virulence Factors - genetics; β Lactamase; β-Lactam antibiotics; Egypt
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88861-w

Proteus mirabilis is a common opportunistic pathogen causing severe illness in humans and animals. To determine the prevalence, antibiogram, biofilm-formation, screening of virulence, and antimicrobial resistance genes in P. mirabilis isolates from ducks; 240 samples were obtained from apparently healthy and diseased ducks from private farms in Port-Said Province, Egypt. The collected samples were examined bacteriologically, and then the recovered isolates were tested for atp D gene sequencing, antimicrobial susceptibility, biofilm-formation, PCR detection of virulence, and antimicrobial resistance genes. The prevalence of P. mirabilis in the examined samples was 14.6% (35/240). The identification of the recovered isolates was confirmed by the atp D gene sequencing, where the tested isolates shared a common ancestor. Besides, 94.3% of P. mirabilis isolates were biofilm producers. The recovered isolates were resistant to penicillins, sulfonamides, β-Lactam-β-lactamase-inhibitor-combinations, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, macrolides, and quinolones. Using PCR, the retrieved strains harbored atp D , ure C , rsb A , and zap A virulence genes with a prevalence of 100%, 100%, 94.3%, and 91.4%, respectively. Moreover, 31.4% (11/35) of the recovered strains were XDR to 8 antimicrobial classes that harbored bla TEM , bla OXA-1 , bla CTX-M , tet A , and sul 1 genes. Besides, 22.8% (8/35) of the tested strains were MDR to 3 antimicrobial classes and possessed bla TEM , tet A , and sul 1genes. Furthermore, 17.1% (6/35) of the tested strains were MDR to 7 antimicrobial classes and harbored bla TEM , bla OXA-1 , bla CTX-M , tet A, and sul 1 genes. Alarmingly, three strains were carbapenem-resistant that exhibited PDR to all the tested 10 antimicrobial classes and shared bla TEM , bla OXA-1 , bla CTX-M , tet A, and sul 1 genes. Of them, two strains harbored the bla NDM-1 gene, and one strain carried the bla KPC gene . In brief, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the emergence of XDR and MDR- P.mirabilis in ducks. Norfloxacin exhibited promising antibacterial activity against the recovered XDR and MDR- P. mirabilis . The emergence of PDR, XDR, and MDR-strains constitutes a threat alarm that indicates the complicated treatment of the infections caused by these superbugs.