Characterization of a Tigecycline-Resistant and blaCTX-M-Bearing Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain from a Peacock in a Chinese Zoo

A multidrug-resistant ST859-K19 K. pneumoniae strain, LYS105A, was obtained from a diseased peacock in a Chinese zoo. In addition, multiple resistance genes such as bla(CTX-M-3), aac(6 ')-Ib-cr5, and qnrB91 were located in a novel composite transposon, Tn7131, of a mobile plasmid, implying that most of the resistance genes in strain LYS105A can be moved easily via horizontal gene transfer. In Chinese zoos, there are usually specially designed bird parks, similar to petting zoos, that allow children and adults to interact with diverse birds. However, such behaviors present a risk for the transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Recently, we isolated eight strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and identified two bla(CTX-M)-positive strains from 110 birds, including parrots, peacocks, and ostriches, using anal or nasal swabs in a bird park of a zoo in China. There, K. pneumoniae LYS105A was obtained from a diseased peacock with chronic respiratory diseases by a nasal swab, which harbored the bla(CTX-M-3) gene and exhibited resistance to amoxicillin, cefotaxime, gentamicin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, tigecycline, florfenicol, and enrofloxacin. According to an analysis by whole-genome sequencing, K. pneumoniae LYS105A belongs to serotype ST859 (sequence type 859)-K19 (capsular serotype 19) and contains two plasmids, of which pLYS105A-2 can be transferred by electrotransformation and harbors numerous resistance genes such as bla(CTX-M-3), aac(6 ')-Ib-cr5, and qnrB91. The above-mentioned genes are located in a novel mobile composite transposon, Tn7131, which makes horizontal transfer more flexible. Although no known genes were identified in the chromosome, a significant increase in SoxS upregulated the expression levels of phoPQ, acrEF-tolC, and oqxAB, which contributed to strain LYS105A acquiring resistance to tigecycline (MIC = 4 mg/L) and intermediate resistance to colistin (MIC = 2 mg/L). Altogether, our findings show that bird parks in zoos may act as important vehicles for the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria from birds to humans and vice versa.IMPORTANCE A multidrug-resistant ST859-K19 K. pneumoniae strain, LYS105A, was obtained from a diseased peacock in a Chinese zoo. In addition, multiple resistance genes such as bla(CTX-M-3), aac(6 ')-Ib-cr5, and qnrB91 were located in a novel composite transposon, Tn7131, of a mobile plasmid, implying that most of the resistance genes in strain LYS105A can be moved easily via horizontal gene transfer. Meanwhile, an increase in SoxS can further positively regulate the expression of phoPQ, acrEF-tolC, and oqxAB, which is the key factor for strain LYS105A to develop resistance to tigecycline and colistin. Taken together, these findings enrich our understanding of the horizontal cross-species spread of drug resistance genes, which will help us curb the development of bacterial resistance.

Automated summary

A multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae-ST859-K19 strain, LYS105A, was isolated from a diseased peacock in a Chinese zoo. It was found that multiple resistance genes, including bla(CTX-M-3), aac(6 ')-Ib-cr5, and qnrB91, were located on a novel composite transposon, Tn7131, of a mobile plasmid, indicating easy horizontal transfer of resistance genes in strain LYS105A.