Seafood as a Reservoir of Gram-negative Bacteria Carrying Integrons and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Japan

Ashraf M. Ahmed, Akito Maruyama, Hazim O. Khalifa, Toshi Shimamoto, Tadashi Shimamoto

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PCR and DNA sequencing were used to screen and characterize integrons and resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria isolated from seafood products in Japan. A total of 215 Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from local and imported seafood samples collected from retail markets in Hiroshima Prefecture. Class 1 integrons containing gene cassettes encoding resistance to trimethoprim (dfrA12 and dfrA17), aminoglycosides (aadA2), and β-lactams (blaPSE-1) were identified in six bacterial isolates. Four different β-lactamase-encoding genes including blaTEM-1, blaCMY-2, blaCMY-13, and blaCMY-39 were identified in seven isolates. A novel gene blaCMY-39 was isolated from a strain of Citrobacter freundii. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes, including qnrB2, qnrB6, and qnrS1, were also identified in 10 isolates. This study highlights the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in seafood-associated bacteria in Japan and indicates that seafood could be a reservoir and route of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)924-926
Number of pages3
JournalBiomedical and Environmental Sciences
Volume28
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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