High Level of Resistance to Antimicrobials and Heavy Metals in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas sp. Isolated from Water Sources

Author(s)

Ramos, Micaela Santana ^[1] ; Rueda Furlan, Joao Pedro ^[1] ; Lage Gallo, Inara Fernanda ^[1] ; Rodrigues dos Santos, Lucas David ^[1] ; de Campos, Tatiana Amabile ^[2] ; Savazzi, Eduardo Angelino ^[3] ; Stehling, Eliana Guedes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Av Cafe S-N, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Brasilia UnB, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Biol Celular, Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[3] Companhia Ambiental Estado Sao Paulo CETESB, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Current Microbiology; v. 77, n. 10 MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) carrying antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) have been increasingly detected in water sources. Pseudomonas sp. are opportunistic pathogens commonly reported in water samples and different antimicrobial resistance mechanisms have been described in Pseudomonas sp., producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype. Besides, the presence of heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) may select ARB, which is worrying. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the genotypes of Pseudomonas sp. isolated from different water sources. Water samples (i.e., rivers, streams, lakes and sewage treatment plants) were collected from different cities in Brazil. The bacterial identification was performed by sequencing the 16S rDNA and the resistance profile to antimicrobials and heavy metals were determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Several ARGs, HMRGs, and plasmids were researched by PCR and the amplicons were sequenced for confirmation. A total of 23 Pseudomonas sp. isolates were obtained and identified as Pseudomonas saponiphila, Pseudomonas hunanensis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas asiatica. These isolates presented high MICs to antimicrobials and heavy metals, being the great majority (n = 21; 91%) classified as MDR. Different clinically important ARGs were detected, such as bla(GES), qnrS, qepA, tetB, aac(3 `)-IIa, and ant(2 `')-Ia. The czcA gene was the only HMRG detected and no plasmids were found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the world of P. saponiphila carrying ARGs (i.e., bla(GES), qnrS, aac(3 `)-IIa, tetB) and QepA-producing P. hunanensis and the first time of P. saponiphila, P. asiatica, and P. hunanensis in Brazil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/01890-3 - Study of resistance, virulence and epidemiological profile of Escherichia coli isolated from environment
• Grantee: João Pedro Rueda Furlan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/19539-0 - Molecular characterization of Escherichia coli isolates from the environment
• Grantee: Eliana Guedes Stehling
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants