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Presence of Colistin Resistance mcr-4 Gene and Clinically Relevant Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Sand Samples from a Public Beach

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Abstract

The plasmid-borne mobilized colistin resistance genes (mcr-like) are related to resistance to polymyxins, which were reintroduced for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. To analyze the presence of clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), including mcr-like genes and plasmids in a beach, sand samples from a public beach were collected. Fifty-seven amplicons from 22 ARGs [mcr-4, blaVIM, blaCTX-M-Gp9, blaPER, blaCMY, qnrB, qnrS, oqxA, oqxB, sul1, sul2, sul3, floR, cmlA, tetA, tetB, tetC, aadA, ant(2″)-Ia, aph(3′)-Ib, aac(6′)-Ib, and mefAE] and 18 amplicons from seven plasmid families (IncFrepB, IncFIA, IncHI1, IncFIB, IncY, IncN, and ColE-like) were detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the mcr-4 gene in Brazil and the first report in the world of mcr-4 gene in a recreation area. This study calls attention to the presence of mcr-4 gene and contribute to the surveillance studies about the mcr-like genes.

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Funding

This study was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [grant number 2018/19539-0]. The authors thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) [grant no. 88882.180855/2018-01, 88887.314388/2019-00 and Finance code 001] and the FAPESP [grant no. 2018/01890-3] for fellowships.

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  1. Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    João Pedro Rueda Furlan, Lucas David Rodrigues dos Santos, Micaela Santana Ramos, Inara Fernanda Lage Gallo & Eliana Guedes Stehling

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  1. João Pedro Rueda Furlan
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  2. Lucas David Rodrigues dos Santos
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Correspondence to Eliana Guedes Stehling.

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Furlan, J.P.R., dos Santos, L.D.R., Ramos, M.S. et al. Presence of Colistin Resistance mcr-4 Gene and Clinically Relevant Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Sand Samples from a Public Beach. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 321 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04707-7

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