Identificación de genes de resistencia a los antimicrobianos en especies bacterianas presentes en cuerpos de agua ornamentales de los parques “La Carolina” y “El Ejido” del norte y centro del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, Ecuador.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing threat to global and regional public health. In Ecuador, there are few studies focused on urban ornamental water bodies, so the main objective of this study was to identify AMR genes in Gramnegative bacteria present in these environments in two parks located at the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador. Samples were taken from “La Carolina” park at northern Quito and “El Ejido” park in the city center, microorganisms were cultured and identified using biochemical tests, tested for antimicrobial sensitivity, DNA was extracted, and genomic sequencing of selected bacterial strains was performed. Genomic identity analysis determined that one of the strains corresponds to Chryseobacterium indologenes and the other one to Pseudomonas protegens. Multiple AMR genes were identified, such as MdtA, which confers resistance to β-lactams, and EmrA, which is specific for colistin resistance, among other genes. Virulence factor genes and mobile elements were also identified. The results indicate that water bodies act as environmental reservoirs for AMR bacteria, possibly influenced by human and animal activity in ornamental water bodies in the analyzed parks, and highlight the importance of surveillance studies in these environments.