Multi-drug resistant <i>Aeromonas</i> species in Annelida: An evidence of pathogen harbouring leech in recreation water nexus of Oghara Nigeria environs

Abstract

Aeromonas infections have shown diverse complications in management due to the multiple antibiotic resistance observed amongst its members. The origin and habitat of its resistance development yet remain vague. The present study depicts Leech and its infested recreational water as a reservoir of multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila. Skin swabs of recreational water bathers before (Bb)/after bathing (Ab) (250 each) and 250 leeches (Hirudomedicinalis) were collected from recreational water sites. Standard Microbiological and Molecular biology methods were applied for isolation and characterization. Two hundred and forty-five (98%)Bb specimen, showed a negative growth oforganisms, 84% (210) of the Ab specimen harboured presumptive Aeromonas species, while 100% (250) Leeches specimen harboured Aeromonas species. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of 16SrRNA gene detection confirmed all (465/100%) isolates as Aeromonas species while 13.6% (63) were further delineated as Aeromonas hydrophila. The antibiogram showed 45(97.82%) resistance to the β-lactam antibiotic and other antibiotic groups. The PCR detection of resistant markers, virulent and plasmid profile of isolates reveals conjugative plasmid mediation, lip (123/97.6%), act (104/82%), hhly (93/73%) genes and BlaampC gene, BlaTEM, gene and BlaSHV gene. Observation of pathogens with similar multiple antibiotic-resistant gene-profile both in the bathers'skin swab and gut of leeches indicates origin/habitat, association and suggests the gut of leeches as breeding habitat for the pathogen. This is an emerging public health concern that associates specifically the environment and human superficial infections.