Antimicrobial resistance in faecal Escherichia coli isolates from farmed red deer and wild small mammals. Detection of a multiresistant E. coli producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase

Eighty-nine Escherichia coli isolates recovered from faeces of red deer and small mammals, cohabiting the same area, were analyzed to determine the prevalence and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing. Antimicrobial resistance was detected in 6.7% of isolates, with resistances to tetracycline and quinolones being the most common. An E. coli strain carrying bla as well as other antibiotic resistant genes included in an unusual class 1 integron (Intl1-dfrA16-bla-aadA2-cmlA1-aadA1-qacH-IS440-sul3-orf1-mef(B)δ-IS26) was isolated from a deer. The bla gene was transferred by conjugation and transconjugants also acquired an IncN plasmid. This strain was typed as ST224, which seems to be well adapted to both clinical and environmental settings. The phylogenetic distribution of the 89 strains varied depending on the animal host. This work reveals low antimicrobial resistance levels among faecal E. coli from wild mammals, which reflects a lower selective pressure affecting these bacteria, compared to livestock. However, it is remarkable the detection of a multi-resistant ESBL-E. coli with an integron carrying clinically relevant antibiotic-resistance genes, which can contribute to the dissemination of resistance determinants among different ecosystems.This work was supported in part by Project SAF2012-35474 from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) of Spain and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). C. A. A. has a pre-doctoral fellowship from the MINECO (Spain).Peer Reviewe