Antimicrobial resistance genes of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, a bacterium of “One Health” importance in South Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Tsepo Ramatla; Mpho Tawana; Kgaugelo E. Lekota; Oriel Thekisoe; Tsepo Ramatla; Mpho Tawana; Kgaugelo E. Lekota; Oriel Thekisoe

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2023005

AIMS Microbiology

2023, Volume 9, Issue 1: 75-89. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2023005

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Antimicrobial resistance genes of Escherichia coli, a bacterium of “One Health” importance in South Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa

Received: 20 December 2022 Revised: 07 February 2023 Accepted: 08 February 2023 Published: 13 February 2023

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated the prevalence of Escherichia coli antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in animals, humans, and the environment in South Africa. This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to search and use literature published between 1 January 2000 to 12 December 2021, on the prevalence of South African E. coli isolates' ARGs. Articles were downloaded from African Journals Online, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar search engines. A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the antibiotic-resistant genes of E. coli in animals, humans, and the environment. Out of 10764 published articles, only 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The obtained results indicated that the pooled prevalence estimates (PPE) of E. coli ARGs was 36.3%, 34.4%, 32.9%, and 28.8% for bla_TEM-M-1, ampC, tetA, and bla_TEM, respectively. Eight ARGs (bla_CTX-M, bla_CTX-M-1, bla_TEM, tetA, tetB, sul1, sulII, and aadA) were detected in humans, animals and the environmental samples. Human E. coli isolate samples harboured 38% of the ARGs. Analyzed data from this study highlights the occurrence of ARGs in E. coli isolates from animals, humans, and environmental samples in South Africa. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop a comprehensive “One Health” strategy to assess antibiotics use in order to understand the causes and dynamics of antibiotic resistance development, as such information will enable the formulation of intervention strategies to stop the spread of ARGs in the future.
- Escherichia coli,
- antibiotic resistance genes,
- One Health,
- South Africa
Citation: Tsepo Ramatla, Mpho Tawana, Kgaugelo E. Lekota, Oriel Thekisoe. Antimicrobial resistance genes of Escherichia coli, a bacterium of “One Health” importance in South Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2023, 9(1): 75-89. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2023005

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Abstract

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated the prevalence of Escherichia coli antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in animals, humans, and the environment in South Africa. This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to search and use literature published between 1 January 2000 to 12 December 2021, on the prevalence of South African E. coli isolates' ARGs. Articles were downloaded from African Journals Online, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar search engines. A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the antibiotic-resistant genes of E. coli in animals, humans, and the environment. Out of 10764 published articles, only 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The obtained results indicated that the pooled prevalence estimates (PPE) of E. coli ARGs was 36.3%, 34.4%, 32.9%, and 28.8% for bla_TEM-M-1, ampC, tetA, and bla_TEM, respectively. Eight ARGs (bla_CTX-M, bla_CTX-M-1, bla_TEM, tetA, tetB, sul1, sulII, and aadA) were detected in humans, animals and the environmental samples. Human E. coli isolate samples harboured 38% of the ARGs. Analyzed data from this study highlights the occurrence of ARGs in E. coli isolates from animals, humans, and environmental samples in South Africa. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop a comprehensive “One Health” strategy to assess antibiotics use in order to understand the causes and dynamics of antibiotic resistance development, as such information will enable the formulation of intervention strategies to stop the spread of ARGs in the future.

Conflict of interest

We declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author contributions

TR, KEL and OT conceived and designed the study. TR performed the literature review and extraction of data. TR and MT analyzed and interpreted the data, created figures and tables and drafted the manuscript. OT and KEL offered mentorship and guidance on antimicrobial resistance, as well as reviewing the manuscript. All authors read, commented and approved the final manuscript.

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