Genomic insights into ESBL-producingisolated from non-human primates in the Peruvian Amazon.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producingare on the WHO priority pathogens list because they are associated with high mortality, health-care burden, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a serious problem that threatens global public health and should be addressed through the One Health approach. Non-human primates (NHP) have a high risk of acquiring these antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to their close phylogenetic relationship with humans and increased anthropogenic activities in their natural environments. This study aimed to detect and analyze the genomes of ESBL-producing(ESBL-producing) in NHP from the Peruvian Amazon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected a total of 119 fecal samples from semi-captive,, and, and captive,,, andin the Loreto and Ucayali regions, respectively. Subsequently, we isolated and identifiedstrains by microbiological methods, detected ESBL-producingthrough antimicrobial susceptibility tests following CLSI guidelines, and analyzed their genomes using previously described genomic methods. RESULTS: We detected that 7.07% (7/99) ofstrains: 5.45% (3/55) from Loreto and 9.09% (4/44) from Ucayali, expressed ESBL phenotype. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of high-risk pandemic clones, such as ST10 and ST117, carrying a broad resistome to relevant antibiotics, including threevariants:,, and. Phylogenomic analysis confirmed the clonal relatedness of high-risk lineages circulating at the human-NHP interface. Additionally, two ESBL-producingstrains were identified as EPEC () and ExPEC according to their virulence profiles, and one more presented a hypermucoviscous phenotype. DISCUSSION: We report the detection and genomic analysis of seven ESBL-producingstrains carrying broad resistome and virulence factors in NHP from two regions of the Peruvian Amazon. Some of these strains are closely related to high-risk pandemic lineages previously reported in humans and domestic animals, highlighting the negative impact of anthropogenic activities on Amazonian wildlife. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of ESBL-producingin NHP from the Amazon, underscoring the importance of adopting the One Health approach to AMR surveillance and minimizing the potential transmission risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at the human-NHP interface.