Escherichia coli from six European countries reveals differences in profile and distribution of critical antimicrobial resistance determinants within One Health compartments, 2013 to 2020
Eurosurveillance publish this investigation article
November 21st, 2024
BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat. Monitoring using an integrated One Health approach is essential to detect changes in AMR occurrence.AimWe aimed to detect AMR genes in pathogenic and commensal Escherichia coli collected 2013-2020 within monitoring programmes and research from food animals, food (fresh retail raw meat) and humans in six European countries, to compare vertical and horizontal transmission.MethodsWe whole genome sequenced (WGS) 3,745 E. coli isolates, detected AMR genes using ResFinder and performed phylogenetic analysis to determine isolate relatedness and transmission. A BLASTn-based bioinformatic method compared draft IncI1 genomes to conserved plasmid references from Europe.ResultsResistance genes to medically important antimicrobials (MIA) such as extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) were widespread but predicted resistance to MIAs authorised for human use (carbapenem, tigecycline) was detected only in two human and three cattle isolates. Phylogenetic analysis clustered E. coli according to phylogroups; commensal animal isolates showed greater diversity than those from human patients. Only 18 vertical animal-food and human-animal transmission events of E. coli clones were detected. However, IncI1 plasmids from different sources and/or countries carrying resistance to ESCs were conserved and widely distributed, although these variants were rarely detected in human pathogens.ConclusionUsing WGS we demonstrated AMR is driven vertically and horizontally. Human clinical isolates were more closely related, but their IncI1 plasmids were more diverse, while animal or food isolates were less similar with more conserved IncI1 plasmids. These differences likely arose from variations in selective pressure, influencing AMR evolution and transmission
Kaspersen HP., Brouwer MSM., Nunez-Garcia J., Cardenas-Rey I., Abuoun M., Duggett N., Ellaby N., Delgado-Blas JF., Hammerl JA., Getino M., Serna C., Naas T., Veldman KT., Bossers A., Sunde M., Mo SS., Jorgensen SB., Ellington M., Gonzalez-Zorn B., La Ragione R., Glaser P. and Anjum MF.
 | Section for Food Safety and Animal Health Research. Norwegian Veterinary Institute. |
| Host-Pathogen interactions and Diagnostic Development. Wageningen Bioveterinary Research. | |
 | Department of Bacteriology. Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). |
| United Kingdom Health Security Agency. | |
 | Servicio de Zoonosis de Transmisión Alimentaria y Resistencia a Antimicrobianos (ZTA). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Department Biological Safety. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. | |
 | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. University of Surrey. |
| Assistance Publique-Hopitaux De Paris. Université Paris-Saclay. | |
| Department for Microbiology and Infection Control. Department for Emergency Medicine. Akershus University Hospital. | |
| School Biosciences and Medicine. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. University of Surrey. |
 | Ecology and evolution of antibiotic resistance Unit. Institut Pasteur. |
