Apramycin resistance plasmids inEscherichia coli: possible transfer toSalmonella typhimuriumin calves

Abstract

SUMMARYAn outbreak of salmonellosis in calves was monitored for persistence ofSalmonella typhimuriumexcretion in faeces and the effect of treatment with apramycin. Prior to treatment apramycin-resistantEscherichia coliwere present but allS. typhimuriumisolates were sensitive. Following the treatment of six calves with apramycin, apramycin-resistantS. typhimuriumwere isolated from two treated calves and one untreated calf. Plasmid profiles ofE. coliandS. typhimuriumwere compared and plasmids conferring resistance to apramycin and several other antibiotics were transferred by conjugationin vitrofrom calfE. coliandS. typhimuriumisolates toE. coliK-12 and fromE. colitoS. typhimurium. The plasmids conjugated with high frequencyin vitrofromE. colitoS. typhimurium, and hybridized to a DNA probe specific for the gene encoding aminoglycoside acetyltransferase 3-IV (AAC(3)-IV) which confers resistance to apramycin, gentamicin, netilmicin and tobramycin.