Emergence of mcr-1 and mcr-3 variants coding for plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from food- producing animals in South Korea

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases 2018-07, Vol.72, p.22-24
• Main Authors: Belaynehe, Kuastros Mekonnen, Shin, Seung Won, Park, Kyung Yoon, Jang, Ji Young, Won, Ho Geun, Yoon, In Joong, Yoo, Han Sang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Colistin - pharmacology; Colistin resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - drug effects; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - genetics; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli Infections - drug therapy; Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology; Escherichia coli Infections - veterinary; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Healthy animals; Livestock - microbiology; mcr-1 gene; mcr-3 gene; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plasmids; Poultry - microbiology; Republic of Korea; Transferability
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.05.011

[Display omitted] •First report of colistin-resistance E. coli isolates harboring mcr-3 from South Korea.•Distribution and molecular characterization of isolates harboring mcr-1 gene.•All colistin resistant isolates were multidrug-resistant.•mcr-1 and mcr-3 genes could readily transfer to recipient strain by conjugation. We hereby report the first characterization of mcr-3 gene from healthy animals in South Korea. Out of 636 E. coli isolates, collected between 2014- 2017, nine colistin resistant isolates were screened for the presence of mcr-1 and mcr-3 genes. Nine (1.4%) isolates had shown resistance for colistin and among them three and two isolates were mcr-1 harboring and mcr-3 harboring strains, respectively. All the colistin-resistant isolates were multidrug-resistant. mcr-1 and mcr-3 genes were confirmed to be transferred to a recipient E. coli J53 AZR.