Emergence of rare carbapenemases (FRI, GES-5, IMI, SFC and SFH-1) in Enterobacterales isolated from surface waters in Japan.

OBJECTIVES

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) pose serious threats to public health. Compared with clinical CPE, the genetic characteristics of environmental CPE are not well understood. This study aimed to characterize the genetic determinants of carbapenem resistance in CPE isolated from environmental waters in Japan.

METHODS

Eighty-five water samples were collected from rivers and a lake in Japan. CPE were identified using selective media, and genome sequencing was performed for the obtained isolates (n = 21).

RESULTS

Various rare/novel carbapenemases were identified: GES-5 in Raoultella planticola (n = 1), FRI-8 and FRI-11 in Enterobacter spp. (n = 8), IMI-22 and IMI-23 in Serratia ureilytica (n = 3), and SFC-1, SFC-2 and SFH-1 in Serratia fonticola (n = 9). Genomes of 11 isolates could be closed, allowing the elucidation of the genetic contexts of the carbapenemase genes. The blaGES-5 gene was located within a class 1 integron, In2071 (cassette array, blaGES-5-aacA3-aadA16), on a 33 kb IncP6 plasmid. The blaFRI-8 genes were carried on IncFII(Yp) plasmids ranging in size from 191 kb to 244 kb, and the blaFRI-11 genes were carried on 70 kb and 74 kb IncFII(pECLA)/IncR plasmids. The blaIMI-22 and blaIMI-23 genes were co-located on a 107 kb plasmid. The blaSFC and blaSFH-1 genes were found on putative genomic islands inserted at tRNA-Phe genes in chromosomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the presence of rare/novel carbapenemases among CPE in aquatic environments, suggesting that the environment may act as a potential reservoir of these minor carbapenemases.