First Detection of FOX-1 AmpC β-lactamase Gene Expression Among Isolated from Abattoir Samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Objectives: Gram-negative bacteria represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance to antibiotics in the environment. The natural selection of resistant clones of bacteria in the environment by antimicrobial selective pressure is a relevant mechanism for spreading antibiotic resistance traits in both the community and hospital environment. This is in scenarios where antimicrobials are used irrationally, and even in the propagation of livestock, poultry birds, and for other veterinary purposes. This study sought to detect the prevalence of FOX-1 AmpC β-lactamase genes from abattoir samples.

Methods: The isolation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and β-lactamase characterization was carried out using standard microbiology techniques. The production of AmpC β-lactamase was phenotypically carried out using the cefoxitin-cloxacillin double-disk synergy test (CC-DDST), and FOX-1 AmpC genes was detected in the isolates using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Forty-eight isolates were recovered from the anal swabs of cows and 35 (72.9%) isolates were positive for the production of β-lactamase. Notably, high percentages of resistance to cefoxitin (91.7%), ceftriaxone (83.3%), imipenem (85.4%), ceftazidime (87.5%), ofloxacin (81.3%), and gentamicin (85.4%) were found. FOX-1 genes were detected in three (6.3%) of the 48 isolates phenotypically screened for AmpC enzyme production.

Conclusions: Abattoirs could represent a major reservoir of resistance genes especially AmpC β-lactamase, and this could serve as a route for the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the community. Thus, the molecular identification of drug-resistant genes is vital for a reliable epidemiological investigation and the forestalling of the emergence and spread of these organisms through the food chain in this region.