Molecular Epidemiology of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Virulence Factors in Multidrug-Resistant Isolated from Rodents, Humans, Chicken, and Household Soils in Karatu, Northern Tanzania.

The interaction of rodents with humans and chicken in the household environment can facilitate transmission of multidrug-resistant (MDR) (), causing infections that are difficult to treat. We investigated the presence of genes encoded for carbapenem, extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), tetracycline and quinolones resistance, and virulence among 50 MDR isolated from human ( = 14), chicken ( = 12), rodent ( = 10), and soil ( = 14) samples using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Overall, the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) detected were: 23/50 (46%), 13/50 (26%), 23/50 (46%), 7/50 (14%), 12/50 (24%), 4/50 (8%), 6/50 (12%), and 3/50 (6%), while , , and were not found. The virulence genes (VGs) found were: 36/50 (72%), 13/50 (26%), 9/50 (18%), 5/50 (10%), 1/50 (2%), and 2/50 (4%), while and genes were not detected. Resistance (, , , , , and ) and virulence () genes were found in all sample sources while and were only found in chicken and rodent isolates, respectively. Tetracycline resistance phenotypes correlated with genotypes (r = 0.94), (r = 0.90), (r = 0.90; (r = 0.89), and (r = 0.96). ESBL resistance was correlated with genotypes (r = 0.93), -48 (r = 0.90), and (r = 0.96) resistance. Positive correlations were observed between resistance and virulence genes: and (r = 0.63) also , and (r = 0.51). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that , , , , , and genes contributed to tetracycline, cefotaxime, and quinolone resistance, respectively. While , , , , and genes contributed to virulence of MDR isolates. The PCA ellipses show that isolates from rodents had more ARGs and virulence genes compared to those isolated from chicken, soil, and humans.