@Article{biocell.2018.07006,
AUTHOR = {Haifeng WANG, Hongxuan HE},
TITLE = {Characterization of multidrug-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> isolated from the Chinese cobra <i>Naja atra</i> in a Beijing suburb},
JOURNAL = {BIOCELL},
VOLUME = {42},
YEAR = {2018},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {47--54},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/biocell/v42n2/33733},
ISSN = {1667-5746},
ABSTRACT = { The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes among Bacteria are a serious threat to global
health. Their occurrence in animals which are in contact with humans is also important. The Chinese cobra (<i>Naja atra</i>, Elapidae), though a highly venomous species, is appreciated as food and as a source of materials used in traditional Chinese medicine. We are here reporting the isolation of multidrug-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae </i> (Enterobacteriaceae) from the lung of <i>Naja atra</i>, obtained from a snake farm in a Beijing suburb. Our study analyzed, using gene sequencing, the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in three <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates from two snakes. In addition, bacterial clones were identified by biochemical tests and phylogenetic analysis. Tests of
antimicrobial susceptibility showed that all <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates were resistant to a host of antibiotics (piperacillin, cefazolin, gentamicin, tetracycline, doxycyclin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) but were susceptible to cefotaxime, cefixime, aztreonam, bramycin, amikacin, kanamycin, netilmicin, and streptomycin. Eighteen ARGs were detected in total DNA extracted from the isolates. Results showed three quinolone resistance
genes (<i>oqxA, oqxB, qnrB</i>), the gyrA gene that confers resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, and the emerging aac(3)-II gene that confers resistance to aminoglycosides. <i>K. pneumoniae</i> is an important opportunistic human pathogen and the emergence of multidrug-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> in <i>N. atra</i> suggests the increasing risk of pathogen transmission
between humans, livestock, and wildlife. Given the close association between foodborne pathogenic microorganisms
and humans, it is key factor to identify these antibiotic resistance genes profile thereby minimize the risk of <i>K. pneumoniae</i> transmission.},
DOI = {10.32604/biocell.2018.07006}
}