Detection and dissemination of the colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, from isolates and fecal samples in China.

In this study, we established a new real-time PCR method to detect the mcr-1 gene in a variety of isolates and fecal samples from 20 provinces and municipal cities in China. Of the 2330 isolates (from 10 species) screened, 54 (2.3%) isolates were positive for mcr-1. All of the mcr-1-positive isolates that were identified belonged to Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, among which 9, 1, and 44 were identified as enteropathogenic E. coli, enteroadherent E. coli, and non-pathogenic E. coli, respectively. The majority of the mcr-1-positive isolates were obtained from farm animals from eight provinces and municipal cities across China. A total of 337 fecal samples, including 229 human and 108 pet animal fecal samples, were also screened for the mcr-1 gene. Of the 337 samples analyzed, six (2.6%) and eight (7.4%) human and pet animal fecal samples were positive for the mcr-1 gene, respectively. These data demonstrate that the mcr-1 gene is highly prevalent in human and animal populations in China. This occurrence suggests that active surveillance of the mcr-1 gene is imperative in curtailing its spread. PMID: 28056227 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Medical Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: J Med Microbiol Source Type: research