Optisch-Molekulare Diagnostik und Systemtechnologie

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Enterobacterales constitutes a significant threat to the health of both humans and animals and a socioeconomic problem. Enterobacterales, mainly Escherichia coli, carrying β-lactamases has become one of the main indicators to estimate the burden of AMR in animals within “One Health” approach. Objectives: To assess the presence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales associated with ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) habituated in all five provinces of Rwanda and to perform in depth characterization of isolates. Methods: We screened 454 rectal swabs from 203 cows, 170 goats, and 81 sheep and selective isolation of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales was conducted. Isolates were identified as a members of the order Enterobacterales by MALDI-TOF MS and further characterized by susceptibility testing and by whole-genome sequencing. Results: Out of the 454 samples, 64 extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales were isolated from 58 animals. Isolates belonged to seven bacterial species and were identified as Escherichia coli (n=54), Enterobacter bugandensis (n=4), Enterobacter mori (n=2), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=2), Enterobacter dykesii (n=1), and Citrobacter freundii (n=1). All isolates displayed an Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) phenotype, with exception of Citrobacter freundii isolate displayed both an ESBL and AmpC phenotype. In addition, all Enterobacter isolates were identified as stably de-repressed AmpC-producers. ESBLs genes, blaCTX−M−15 was predominant. Resistance to tetracycline and tet(A) was most frequently observed among non-β-lactam resistance. Forty-eight isolates displayed.