Acquisition of Plasmid-Mediated Colistin Resistance Gene mcr-1 in Escherichia coli of Livestock Origin in Bangladesh

Abstract

Aims:

To investigate plasmid-borne colistin resistance mechanism (plasmid-mediated colistin resistance [mcr-1]) in Escherichia coli of human, veterinary, and environmental origin in Bangladesh.

Materials and methods:

A total of 810 samples were collected from different sources. Isolation and identification of E. coli was performed using classical bacteriology and then tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Colistin-resistant isolates were further analyzed for mcr-1 gene using PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using microbroth dilution technique. After sequencing of mcr-1 gene, phylogenetics was conducted to see the relationship with other mcr-1 gene sequences.

Results:

A total of 358 E. coli were isolated from 810 samples of humans, animals, environment, and food in Bangladesh. Of them 49 (15.9%) isolates were phenotypically resistant to colistin and 254 (70.9%) were resistant to multiple antimicrobials. mcr-1 gene was detected in three E. coli isolates of poultry source. For the three mcr-1 positive isolates the MIC of colistin sulfate was 4, 8, and 128 μg/mL. Gene sequencing of two of the three mcr-1 positive isolates and phylogenetic analysis showed close similarities of one isolate to other mcr-1 sequences available at GenBank while the other appeared to have evolved locally.

Conclusion:

First-ever report on circulation of mcr-1 E. coli of livestock origin in Bangladesh.