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First Report of KPC-2 and KPC-3-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Wild Birds in Africa

  • Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

The increased incidence of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae is a public health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential role of wild birds, given their capacity of migrating over long distances, in the spreading of carbapenemase, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), and acquired-AmpC beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the environment. Fecal and pellet samples were recovered from 150 wild birds in seven Tunisian regions and were inoculated in MacConkey-agar plates for Enterobacteriaceae recovery (one isolate/animal). Ninety-nine isolates were obtained and acquired resistance mechanisms were characterized in the five detected imipenem-resistant and/or cefotaxime-resistant isolates, by PCR and sequencing. The following ESBL, carbapenemase, and acquired-AmpC beta-lactamase genes were detected: blaCTX-M-15 (two Escherichia fergusonii and one Klebsiella oxytoca isolates), blaKPC-2 (one K. oxytoca), blaKPC-3 (one E. fergusonii), blaACT-36, and blaACC-2 (two K. oxytoca, four E. fergusonii, and two E. coli). The IncFIIs, IncF, IncFIB, IncK, IncP, and IncX replicons were detected among these beta-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae producers. The blaKPC-2, tetA, sul3, qnrB, and cmlA determinants were co-transferred by conjugation from K. oxytoca strain to E. coli J153, in association with IncK and IncF replicons. Our results support the implication of wild birds as a biological vector for carbapenemase, ESBL, and acquired-AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

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Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Nabil Hamdi and Mr. Ridha Ouni for their active participation during sample collection.

Funding

Our work was partly supported by the Ministère de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche scientifique, Tunisie (Ref. LR03ES03). The work performed in Spain was financed by project SAF2016-76571-R of the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of Spain and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Carla Andrea Alonso had a pre-doctoral fellowship FPI from MINECO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire des Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia

    Houssem Ben Yahia, Sarra Chairat, Haythem Gharsa, Rym Ben Sallem & Karim Ben Slama

  2. Institut Supérieur des Sciences Biologiques Appliquées de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 1006, Tunis, Tunisia

    Haythem Gharsa, Nabil Hamdi & Karim Ben Slama

  3. Area de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Rioja, Madre de Dios 51, 26006, Logroño, Spain

    Carla Andrea Alonso, Nerea Porres-Osante & Carmen Torres

  4. U/R de Bio-Écologie et Systématique Évolutive; Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus El Manar, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia

    Nabil Hamdi

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  1. Houssem Ben Yahia
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  2. Sarra Chairat
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  9. Karim Ben Slama
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Correspondence to Carmen Torres or Karim Ben Slama.

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Ben Yahia, H., Chairat, S., Gharsa, H. et al. First Report of KPC-2 and KPC-3-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Wild Birds in Africa. Microb Ecol 79, 30–37 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-019-01375-x

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