Prevalence and Characterization of Quinolone-Resistance Determinants in Escherichia coli Isolated from Food-Producing Animals and Animal-Derived Food in the Philippines

Antimicrobial resistance to quinolones, which constitutes a threat to public health, has been increasing worldwide. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of quinolone-resistant determinants in Escherichia coli not susceptible to quinolones and isolated from food-producing animals and food derived from them, in the Philippines. A total of 791 E. coli strains were isolated in 56.4% of 601 beef, chicken, pork, egg, and milk samples, as well as environmental, cloacal, and rectal swab-collected samples from supermarkets, open markets, abattoirs, and poultry, swine, and buffalo farms. Using the disc diffusion method, it was determined that 78.6% and 55.4% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial and multiple drugs, respectively. In 141 isolates not susceptible to quinolones, 115 (81.6%) harbored quinolone-resistant determinants and had mutations predominantly in the quinolone-resistance determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA and parC. Plasmid-mediated, quinolone resistance (PMQR) and Qnr family (qnrA1, qnrB4, and qnrS1) genes were detected in all isolates. Forty-eight sequence types were identified in isolates harboring mutations in QRDR and/or PMQR genes by multilocus sequence typing analysis. Moreover, 26 isolates harboring mutations in QRDR and/or PMQR genes belonged mostly to phylogroup B1 and Enteroaggregative E. coli. In conclusion, a high prevalence of E. coli was found in food-producing animals and products derived from them, which could potentially spread high-risk clones harboring quinolone-resistance determinants.