AUTHOR=Ghaderpour Aziz , Ho Wing Sze , Chew Li-Lee , Bong Chui Wei , Chong Ving Ching , Thong Kwai-Lin , Chai Lay Ching 

TITLE=Diverse and abundant multi-drug resistant E. coli in Matang mangrove estuaries, Malaysia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00977

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2015.00977

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>E.</italic>coli, an important vector distributing antimicrobial resistance in the environment, was found to be multi-drug resistant, abundant, and genetically diverse in the Matang mangrove estuaries, Malaysia. One-third (34%) of the estuarine <italic>E. coli</italic> was multi-drug resistant. The highest antibiotic resistance prevalence was observed for aminoglycosides (83%) and beta-lactams (37%). Phylogenetic groups A and B1, being the most predominant <italic>E. coli</italic>, demonstrated the highest antibiotic resistant level and prevalence of integrons (integron I, 21%; integron II, 3%). Detection of phylogenetic group B2<sub>3</sub> downstream of fishing villages indicates human fecal contamination as a source of <italic>E. coli</italic> pollution. Enteroaggregative <italic>E. coli</italic> (1%) were also detected immediately downstream of the fishing village. The results indicated multi-drug resistance among <italic>E. coli</italic> circulating in Matang estuaries, which could be reflective of anthropogenic activities and aggravated by bacterial and antibiotic discharges from village lack of a sewerage system, aquaculture farms and upstream animal husbandry.</p>