Genomic Profiling of Antibiotic-Resistant Isolates from Surface Water of Agricultural Drainage in North-Western Mexico: Detection of the International High-Risk Lineages ST410 and ST617.

Aquatic environments are recognized as one of the main reservoirs for the emergence and dissemination of high-risk lineages of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria of public health concern. However, the genomic characteristics of antibiotic-resistant isolates from aquatic origins remain limited. Herein, we examined the antibiotic resistance and virulence genomic profiles of three recovered from surface water in northwest Mexico. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and in-depth in silico analysis were performed. Two exhibited MDR phenotypes. WGS-based typing revealed genetic diversity, and phylogenetic analysis corroborated a notable divergent relationship among the studied . One strain, harboring enterotoxigenic and extraintestinal pathogenic-associated virulence genes, was assigned to the ST4 lineage. MDR , belonging to the international high-risk clones ST410 and ST617, carried genes and mutations conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, β-lactams, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim. This study describes, for the first time, the detection and genomic profiling of high-risk lineages of ST410 and ST617 from surface water in Mexico. Additionally, our results underscore the role of surface water as a reservoir for critical pathogenic and MDR clones and the need for the surveillance and monitoring of aquatic environments via WGS from the One Health perspective.