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Microbes & Immunity Food chain milieus as a reserver for multidrug resistance

(16%), Iran (22%), and Turkey (29%), where increasing resistance to carbapenems in poultry in Enugu, Nigeria.
rates of MBL genes, particularly bla IMP-1 and bla IMP-2 , were Antibiotic misuse and fecal contamination in poultry may
recorded from poultry samples and other samples from contribute to the evolution and spread of MBL-producing
the general environment. 18,21-23 MBL is a high-profile bacteria, such as plasmid-mediated MBL-producing
antibiotic-degrading enzyme that has attracted a lot of P. aeruginosa, in the general environment. The prevalence
public health attention globally in recent times because it of bacteria producing MBL in poultry milieus reported
reduces the clinical potency of carbapenems. Antibiotic in this study suggests that the surveillance on multidrug
abuse, particularly in Nigeria, where there is no formal resistance, particularly outside the hospital environment
legislation or policy to control antibiotic use in non- is needed urgently across the food chain milieus in the
hospital milieus, has caused some bacteria species to various states in Nigeria.
become resistant to carbapenems and other antibiotics
of clinical relevance. 17,24,25 Plasmids are important mobile Acknowledgments
genetic elements (MGEs) for the transmission of ARGs Authors thank the Institute Mérieux (IMX), France, and
among bacterial species and the general environment. the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) for
The P. aeruginosa isolates tested for the location of their providing the funding which supported this project. We are
resistance (MBL) genes in this study demonstrate that most also grateful to the management of ESUT, Nigeria, for other
of the isolates harbored their ARGs on their plasmids. These administrative support during the study. We appreciate
results indicate that their ARGs are borne on a plasmid since the technical and administrative support of the staff of the
about 50% of the P. aeruginosa isolates exhibited appreciable Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ESUT, Nigeria.
zones of inhibition (plasmids were cured) when tested
against some selected antibiotics to which they previously Funding
exhibited reduced susceptibility. On the other hand, about This manuscript was drafted as a part of a deliverable of the
14 – 29% of the P. aeruginosa isolates did not show zones research project “Functional Metagenomics to Reveal and
of inhibition (plasmids not cured), indicating that the Monitor Novel AMR Genes and Strains Circulating in the
isolates had their resistance genes borne on a chromosome. Food Chain in Nigeria,” funded by the Institute Mérieux
Furthermore, more than 50% of the P. aeruginosa isolates (IMX), France (IMX-NIMR-Award 2021), in which
exhibited multidrug resistance to antibiotics found in the Dr. Chika Ejikeugwu was awarded a Young Investigator
antibiotic classes of TEs, carbapenems, cephalosporins, Award on AMR in 2021, in which all authors participated.
aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. The funders had no role in the collection of samples,
Acquired resistance, which is mostly mediated by management of the project, design and conduct of the study,
the horizontal transfer of ARGs among bacterial species analysis, and interpretation of the data, and the preparation,
through plasmids and other MGEs, is a critical public review, and approval of the final draft of the manuscript.
health issue that is driving the evolution and spread of Conflict of interest
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hospitals and the
general environment. According to Zwanzig, the selective The authors declare that the research was conducted in the
26
pressure posed by irrational use of antibiotics could lead absence of any commercial or financial relationships that
to the development and community transmission of AMR could be interpreted as a potential conflict of interest.
in the general environment. P. aeruginosa causes a handful Author contributions
of community-acquired infections. Thus, the prevalence of
MBL bacteria in poultry milieus, as reported in this study, Conceptualization: Chika Ejikeugwu, Michael Adikwu
makes it an important MDR pathogen that needs urgent Data curation: All authors
attention to diminish its evolution and spread. Formal analysis: All authors
Investigation: All authors
5. Conclusion Methodology: All authors
Despite the gains in antimicrobial stewardship across Visualization: Cyril Adonu, Carissa Duru, Malachy Ugwu
the globe, more still needs to be done to curb AMR in Writing—original draft: Chika Ejikeugwu, Michael Adikwu
the developing world like Nigeria where the health-care Writing—reviewing & editing: All authors
system is still developing and AMR is less debated at both
institutional and national levels. P. aeruginosa in this work Ethics approval and consent to participate
harbours resistance genes that are plasmid borne. We also This study was approved by the Local Ethics and Research
reported the occurrence of genes that mediate bacterial Committee of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2024) 65 doi: 10.36922/mi.2319