Zoo Animals as Reservoirs of Gram-Negative Bacteria Harboring Integrons and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

14/4/2010

Abstract

A total of 232 isolates of gram-negative bacteria were recovered from mammals, reptiles, and birds housed at Asa Zoological Park, Hiroshima prefecture, Japan. Forty-nine isolates (21.1%) showed multidrug resistance phenotypes and harbored at least one antimicrobial resistance gene. PCR and DNA sequencing identified class 1 and class 2 integrons and many _-lactamase-encoding genes, in addition to a novel AmpC _-lactamase gene, blaCMY-26. Furthermore, the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes qnr and aac(6_)-Ib-cr were also identified.

 

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