IncA/C Plasmid-Mediated Spread of CMY-2 in Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli from Food Animals in China

Objectives: To obtain a broad molecular epidemiological characterization of plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase CMY-2 in Escherichia coli isolates from food animals in China. Methods: A total of 1083 E. coli isolates from feces, viscera, blood, drinking water, and sub-surface soil were examined for the presence of CMY-2 beta-lactamases. CMY-2-producing isolates were characterized as follows: the bla(CMY-2) genotype was determined using PCR and sequencing, characterization of the bla(CMY-2) genetic environment, plasmid sizing using S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), PCR-based replicon typing, phylogenetic grouping, XbaI-PFGE, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results: All 31 CMY-2 producers were only detected in feces, and presented with multidrug resistant phenotypes. All CMY-2 strains also co-harbored genes conferring resistance to other antimicrobials, including extended spectrum beta-lactamases genes (bla(CTX-M-14) or bla(CTX-M-55)), plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants (qnr, oqxA, and aac-(6')-Ib-cr), floR and rmtB. The co-transferring of bla(CMY-2) with qnrS1 and floR (alone and together) was mainly driven by the Inc A/C type plasmid, with sizes of 160 or 200 kb. Gene cassette arrays inserted in the class 1 or class 2 integron were amplified among 12 CMY-2 producers. CMY-2 producers belonged to avirulent groups B1 (n = 12) and A (n = 11), and virulent group D (n = 8). There was a good correlation between phylogenetic groups and sequence types (ST). Twenty-four STs were identified, of which the ST complexes (STC) 101/B1 (n = 6), STC10/A (n = 5), and STC155/B1 (n = 3) were dominant. Conclusions: CMY-2 is the dominant AmpC b-lactamase in food animals and is associated with a transferable replicon IncA/C plasmid in the STC101, STC10, and STC155 strains.