›› 2014, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (9): 63-68.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on Molecular Characterization of Class Ⅰ Integron and Integron-associated Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli from Beef Cattle

WANG Hai-sheng1,2, HU Rui-ping2, GAO Yu-min3, YANG Zhong4, DENG Xiu-ling2, ZHANG Jian-yu2, WU Rui-bing2, HUHE Bateer1   

  1. 1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China;
    2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, China;
    3. College of Publish Health, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, China;
    4. Hohhot Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hohhot 010070, China
  • Revised:2014-05-26 Online:2014-09-20 Published:2014-09-24

Abstract: To investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of class Ⅰ integron in Escherichia coli isolated from beef cattle, and analyze the relationship between integron and antimicrobial resistance, susceptibilities to 11 antimicrobials were conducted on 92 isolates, the presence and characterization of class Ⅰ integrons and inserted gene cassettes were performed using PCR combined with sequencing analysis. The results showed that 29 isolates had been detected positive for class Ⅰ integron integrase gene (intⅠ1) among 92 isolates, and aadA1 and dfrA17+aadA5 were the most prevalent gene cassette arrays detected. The resistance rates of 92 isolates to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole and tetracycline were all more than 45.0%. As revealed by analyzing the association between resistance phenotypes and class Ⅰ integron, isolates that contained the class Ⅰ integron were significantly highly resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (P<0.05), but not to quinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. The conclusion was that E.coli isolated from beef cattle were seriously resistant to antimicrobials,and integron/cassettes widely existed. The presence of integrons and the association of antimicrobial resistance determinants with transferable elements might play a crucial role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance among E.coli. Data reported here clearly emphasized the need for a stricter application of antimicrobials restriction policies in feedlot setting.

Key words: class Ⅰ integron; gene cassettes; antimicrobial resistance; Escherichia coli

CLC Number: