Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains and Their Plasmids in People, Poultry, and Chicken Meat in Laos

Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Enterobacterales are widely distributed among the healthy population of Indochinese peninsula, including Laos. However, local reservoir these pathogens currently not known and possible sources such as agricultural settings food have rarely been analyzed. In this work, we investigated extended-spectrum cephalosporin- (ESC-) colistin-resistant Escherichia coli strains (CST-R- Ec ) isolated from gut people, feces poultry, chicken meat (60 samples each group) in Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis based on both short- long-read approaches were implemented. The following prevalence ESC-R- CST-R- recorded, respectively: people (70 15%), poultry (20 23.3%), (21.7 13.3%). Core-genome analysis, coupled with sequence type (ST)/core-genome ST (cgST) definitions, indicated that no common AMR- clones spreading different settings. mostly possessed bla CTX–M–15 CTX–M–55 associated to IS Ecp1 or 26 . majority carried mcr-1 IncX4, IncI2, IncP1, IncHI1 plasmids similar identical those described worldwide; chromosomal possessing plasmid-mediated mcr-3 also found. These results indicate a high population, meat. While did observe same three settings, most CTX–Ms mcr-1/-3 mobile-genetic elements, indicating horizontal gene transfer may play an important role dissemination More studies should be planned better understand extent dynamics phenomenon.