Phylogenetic group distribution and antibiotic resistance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates in aquatic environments of a highly populated area

Rosette Mansour; Mohammad H. El-Dakdouki; Sara Mina; Rosette Mansour; Mohammad H. El-Dakdouki; Sara Mina

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2024018

AIMS Microbiology

2024, Volume 10, Issue 2: 340-362. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024018

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Research article

Phylogenetic group distribution and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolates in aquatic environments of a highly populated area

1.
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh 11072809, Beirut, Lebanon
2.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh 11072809, Beirut, Lebanon
3.
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh 11072809, Beirut, Lebanon

Received: 09 March 2024 Revised: 21 April 2024 Accepted: 28 April 2024 Published: 09 May 2024

Background
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae including Escherichia coli (E. coli), are recognized as a global public health threat due to their multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes and their rapid dissemination in aquatic environments. Nevertheless, studies investigating the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of ESBL-producing E. coli in Lebanese surface water are limited.

Objective
This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties and microbial contamination load and to determine the distribution of AMR patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli in surface water samples from different sites in the North Governorate of Lebanon.

Methods
Water samples were collected from 25 major sites in North Lebanon. These samples were analyzed for the presence of total coliforms, E. coli, and fecal enterococci. Phenotypic and genetic characterizations were then performed for E. coli isolates to determine their resistance patterns and phylogenetic groups.

Results
Fifty-six samples out of 100 samples were positive for ESBL-producing E. coli, mostly harboring bla_CTX-M (40/56, 71%) including bla_CTX-M-15 (33/40, 82%), bla_TEM gene (36/56, 64%), bla_SHV (20/56, 36%), and bla_OXA (16/56, 29%) including bla_OXA-48 gene (11/16, 69%). Most ESBL-producing E. coli isolates belonged to the extra-intestinal pathogenic phylogroup B2 (40/56, 71.4%) while 10/56 (17.9%) belonged to the commensal phylogroup A.

Conclusion
Our results highlight the need to implement effective water monitoring strategies to control transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli in surface water and thus reduce the burden on human and animal health.
- Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase,
- Escherichia coli,
- resistance,
- water,
- contamination,
- phylogroup,
- Lebanon
Citation: Rosette Mansour, Mohammad H. El-Dakdouki, Sara Mina. Phylogenetic group distribution and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolates in aquatic environments of a highly populated area[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(2): 340-362. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024018

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Abstract

Background

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae including Escherichia coli (E. coli), are recognized as a global public health threat due to their multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes and their rapid dissemination in aquatic environments. Nevertheless, studies investigating the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of ESBL-producing E. coli in Lebanese surface water are limited.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties and microbial contamination load and to determine the distribution of AMR patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli in surface water samples from different sites in the North Governorate of Lebanon.

Methods

Water samples were collected from 25 major sites in North Lebanon. These samples were analyzed for the presence of total coliforms, E. coli, and fecal enterococci. Phenotypic and genetic characterizations were then performed for E. coli isolates to determine their resistance patterns and phylogenetic groups.

Results

Fifty-six samples out of 100 samples were positive for ESBL-producing E. coli, mostly harboring bla_CTX-M (40/56, 71%) including bla_CTX-M-15 (33/40, 82%), bla_TEM gene (36/56, 64%), bla_SHV (20/56, 36%), and bla_OXA (16/56, 29%) including bla_OXA-48 gene (11/16, 69%). Most ESBL-producing E. coli isolates belonged to the extra-intestinal pathogenic phylogroup B2 (40/56, 71.4%) while 10/56 (17.9%) belonged to the commensal phylogroup A.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the need to implement effective water monitoring strategies to control transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli in surface water and thus reduce the burden on human and animal health.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Michel Afram, President-Director General of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) for his support to this work.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this work.

Author contributions

R.M: Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - Original Draft, Visualization; M.ED: Validation, Writing - Review & Editing, Supervision; S.M: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Data curation, Writing - Original Draft, Writing - Review & Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration.

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