Transmission of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella harboring a bla(CMY-2)-carrying IncA/C-2 plasmid chromosomally integrated by ISEcp1 or IS26 in chains in Japan

Dissemination of extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant Salmonella is a public health concern in the egg production industry. ESC-resistant Salmonella often acquires the bla gene via insertion sequences (ISs). Therefore, this study aimed to assess antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella from Japanese layer breeding chains and egg processing chains, and determine the genetic profiles of IS-like elements in ESC-resistant Salmonella. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 224 isolates from 49 facilities involving layer breeder farms, hatcheries, pullet-rearing farms, and layer farms in breeding chains along with egg processing chains. ESC-resistant Salmonella strains were whole-genome sequenced. Among them, 40 (17.9%) were resistant to at least streptomycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cefpodoxime, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and/or kanamycin despite lacking resistance to azithromycin and meropenem. Moreover, 15 were ESC-resistant Salmonella harboring bla(CMY-2) (Salmonella enterica serovar Ohio, n=12; S. Braenderup, n=1; untypeable with O7:b:-, n=1) and bla(CTX-M-14) (S. Cerro, n=1). IncA/C-2 plasmids containing ISEcp1, IS26, and multiple antimicrobial resistance genes (including bla(CMY-2)) were identified in S. Ohio isolates from pullet-rearing and layer farms belonging to the same company. Chromosomal integration of partial or whole IncA/C-2 plasmids was seen with two S. Ohio isolates via ISEcp1 or IS26, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance genes such as bla(CMY-2) might be transmitted among the upper and the lower levels of layer breeding chains via the replicon type IncA/C-2 plasmids containing ISEcp1 and IS26.