<i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Fosfomycin, a critically important antibiotic, is widely used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>Escherichia coli</i>, particularly those producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). However, its...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Felipe Juscele Andre B. S. Saidenberg Lars E. B. Christoffersen Sofie M. Edslev Søren Hallstrøm Jessica R. Nacarato Fernanda B. Barbosa Marcos P. Cunha Fernanda Esposito Nilton H. Lincopan Marc Stegger Terezinha Knöbl |
| author_facet | Felipe Juscele Andre B. S. Saidenberg Lars E. B. Christoffersen Sofie M. Edslev Søren Hallstrøm Jessica R. Nacarato Fernanda B. Barbosa Marcos P. Cunha Fernanda Esposito Nilton H. Lincopan Marc Stegger Terezinha Knöbl |
| author_sort | Felipe Juscele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Fosfomycin, a critically important antibiotic, is widely used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>Escherichia coli</i>, particularly those producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). However, its increasing use in livestock has raised concerns about resistance development and global dissemination. This study investigated fosfomycin resistance in <i>E. coli</i> isolates from 400 fecal samples collected at Brazilian broiler farms. <b>Methods</b>: The samples were tested for their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), screened with PCR for specific resistance genes, and selected isolated were whole genome sequenced. <b>Results</b>: Phenotypic resistance to fosfomycin was detected in 19% (75/400) of the isolates, while the <i>fosA3</i> gene, encoding enzymatic resistance, was identified in 4% (16/400) via PCR screening. Long-read sequencing of seven <i>fosA3</i>-positive isolates revealed the presence of <i>fosA3</i> on IncFII and IncX plasmids, often co-located with <i>bla</i><sub>CTX-M-55</sub> within a conserved <i>IS</i>26-flanked transposon. Comparative genomic analysis of 133,541 global <i>E. coli</i> genomes from EnteroBase showed that 35% harbored similar transposon structures, with 2% carrying <i>fosA3</i>. These <i>fosA3</i>-positive isolates were significantly associated with South America and exhibited high co-carriage of ESBL genes, particularly in environmental and poultry-associated isolates. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated no clustering by host or geographic origin, highlighting the global dissemination of these resistance determinants. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our findings emphasize the role of poultry production in the spread of fosfomycin and ESBL resistance, driven by transmissible plasmids and co-selection with third-generation cephalosporins. Improved antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance programs, and alternative management strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the dissemination of resistance and preserve fosfomycin’s efficacy in human medicine. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d23fee3cd49489d84bdf4aa22190c4d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj-art-4d23fee3cd49489d84bdf4aa22190c4d2025-08-20T03:43:51ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-03-0114326910.3390/antibiotics14030269<i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL ResistanceFelipe Juscele0Andre B. S. Saidenberg1Lars E. B. Christoffersen2Sofie M. Edslev3Søren Hallstrøm4Jessica R. Nacarato5Fernanda B. Barbosa6Marcos P. Cunha7Fernanda Esposito8Nilton H. Lincopan9Marc Stegger10Terezinha Knöbl11School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, BrazilSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, BrazilDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, DenmarkSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, BrazilSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, BrazilSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, BrazilDepartment of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 12247-016, BrazilDepartment of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 12247-016, BrazilDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, DenmarkSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Fosfomycin, a critically important antibiotic, is widely used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>Escherichia coli</i>, particularly those producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). However, its increasing use in livestock has raised concerns about resistance development and global dissemination. This study investigated fosfomycin resistance in <i>E. coli</i> isolates from 400 fecal samples collected at Brazilian broiler farms. <b>Methods</b>: The samples were tested for their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), screened with PCR for specific resistance genes, and selected isolated were whole genome sequenced. <b>Results</b>: Phenotypic resistance to fosfomycin was detected in 19% (75/400) of the isolates, while the <i>fosA3</i> gene, encoding enzymatic resistance, was identified in 4% (16/400) via PCR screening. Long-read sequencing of seven <i>fosA3</i>-positive isolates revealed the presence of <i>fosA3</i> on IncFII and IncX plasmids, often co-located with <i>bla</i><sub>CTX-M-55</sub> within a conserved <i>IS</i>26-flanked transposon. Comparative genomic analysis of 133,541 global <i>E. coli</i> genomes from EnteroBase showed that 35% harbored similar transposon structures, with 2% carrying <i>fosA3</i>. These <i>fosA3</i>-positive isolates were significantly associated with South America and exhibited high co-carriage of ESBL genes, particularly in environmental and poultry-associated isolates. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated no clustering by host or geographic origin, highlighting the global dissemination of these resistance determinants. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our findings emphasize the role of poultry production in the spread of fosfomycin and ESBL resistance, driven by transmissible plasmids and co-selection with third-generation cephalosporins. Improved antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance programs, and alternative management strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the dissemination of resistance and preserve fosfomycin’s efficacy in human medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/3/269<i>Escherichia coli</i>fosfomycinpoultry |
| spellingShingle | Felipe Juscele Andre B. S. Saidenberg Lars E. B. Christoffersen Sofie M. Edslev Søren Hallstrøm Jessica R. Nacarato Fernanda B. Barbosa Marcos P. Cunha Fernanda Esposito Nilton H. Lincopan Marc Stegger Terezinha Knöbl <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance Antibiotics <i>Escherichia coli</i> fosfomycin poultry |
| title | <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance |
| title_full | <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance |
| title_fullStr | <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance |
| title_short | <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Brazilian Poultry Fecal Samples: Co-Carriage of Fosfomycin and ESBL Resistance |
| title_sort | i escherichia coli i in brazilian poultry fecal samples co carriage of fosfomycin and esbl resistance |
| topic | <i>Escherichia coli</i> fosfomycin poultry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/3/269 |
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