Genetic Characterization, Transmission Pattern and Health Risk Analysis of Intestinal Colonization ESBL-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Vegetable Farming Population
The surging prevalence rates of ESBL-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ESBL-Ec) pose a serious threat to public health. To date, most research on drug-resistant bacteria and genes has focused on livestock and poultry breeding areas, hospital clinical areas, natural water environments, a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2646 |
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| Summary: | The surging prevalence rates of ESBL-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ESBL-Ec) pose a serious threat to public health. To date, most research on drug-resistant bacteria and genes has focused on livestock and poultry breeding areas, hospital clinical areas, natural water environments, and wastewater treatment plants. However, few studies have been conducted on drug-resistant bacteria in vegetable cultivation. In this study, a total of vegetable farmers (n = 59) from six villages were surveyed. Fecal samples were collected from vegetable farmers; we also collected environmental samples, including river water, well water, soil, river sediment, vegetable surface swabs, and fish intestinal tracts. The ESBL-Ec intestinal colonization rate in vegetable farmers was 76.27%. PFGE results indicated two patterns of ESBL-Ec transmission within the vegetable cultivation area: among vegetable farmers, and among river water, river sediments, and vegetable farmers. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, three transmission patterns of ESBL-Ec outside the vegetable cultivation area were inferred: human–human, human–animal–human, and human–animal–environment. Twelve of the isolates carried closely related or identical IncF plasmids carrying <i>bla<sub>CTX-M</sub></i>. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis showed that ST569-B2-O134:H31 and ST38-D-O50:H30 were associated with high disease risk. We assessed the health risks of the farming population and provided a reference basis for public health surveillance and environmental management by monitoring the prevalence and transmission of ESBL-Ec in vegetable areas. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-2607 |