AUTHOR=Wang Xue , Kang Qian , Zhao Jianan , Liu Zhihui , Ji Fang , Li Junbao , Yang Jianchun , Zhang Chenglin , Jia Ting , Dong Guoying , Liu Shelan , Hu Guocheng , Qin Jianhua , Wang Chengmin 

TITLE=Characteristics and Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae From Red Kangaroo, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.560474

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.560474

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Due to its drug resistant nature, β-lactamase represents a serious challenge for public health. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> clones are increasingly reported worldwide. Little is known about the prevalence and biological characteristics of drug-resistant strains in zoos. During routine surveillance at the Zhengzhou Zoo of China, we found <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> isolate in healthy Red Kangaroos (<italic>Macropus Rufus</italic>) with severe MDR. The <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> were especially resistant to Cefuroxime Sodium (MIC, &gt; 64 μg/mL), Ceftriaxone (MIC, &gt;8 μg/mL) and Cefepime (MIC, &gt;64 μg/mL), and belonged to ST290. Subsequently, whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the Chrome Chr-M297-1 harbored <italic>bla</italic><sub>DHA–3</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub>SHV–1</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub>CTX–M–14</sub>, <italic>fosA5</italic>, <italic>dfrA3</italic>, <italic>sul3</italic>, etc., and pM297-1.1 [222,864 bp, IncFIB(K)], which carried nine antimicrobial genes including <italic>bla</italic><sub>CTX–M–14</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub>TEM–191</sub>, <italic>aph(3″)-Ib</italic>, <italic>aph(6)-Id</italic> and <italic>qnrS1</italic>, etc., and pM297-1.2 [225,763 bp, IncFII(K)] carried 22 antimicrobial genes including <italic>bla</italic><sub>TEM–1</sub>, <italic>bla</italic><sub>CTX–M–3</sub>, <italic>aph(3′)-Ia</italic>, <italic>aac(3)-IIa</italic>, <italic>aac(6′)-Ib-cr</italic>, <italic>aadA16</italic>, <italic>qnrB2</italic>, <italic>qnrS1</italic>, <italic>qacEΔ1</italic>, <italic>mphA</italic>, <italic>sul1</italic>, and <italic>dfrA27</italic>, etc. A traceability analysis then revealed that these two plasmids were highly similar to those recovered from human clinical samples in some southern cities in Sichuan Province, China (&gt;99%), suggesting that these plasmids are spreading in China. Furthermore, two plasmids harboring conjugal transfer genes facilitated the transmission of antimicrobial genes by conjugation with <italic>E. coli</italic> J53. Our research shows that the transmission and adaptation of <italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</italic> producing ESBLs is occurring in zoo environments, suggesting that zoos may be becoming important potential reservoirs for clinically important drug-resistant genes. It is therefore necessary to monitor the emergence and spread of drug-resistant gene strains in captive wild animals held in zoo environments.</p>