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Genotypic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance-Associated Genes in Citrobacter Freundii Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection in Al-Najaf Governorate-Iraq

Thualfakar Hayder1 and Ahmed Abduljabbar Jaloob Aljanaby2
  • 1 Altoosi Collage University, Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq
  • 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Iraq

Abstract

Citrobacter freundii is one of the most important pathogens that cause urinary tract infection in human because it harbors many types of antimicrobials resistance-associated genes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance-associated genes citrobacter freundii isolated from patients with urinary tract infection in Al-Najaf governorate-Iraq. A total of 30 strains of citrobacter freundii isolated from urine samples of patients with urinary tract infection in Al-Najaf central hospital in Al-Najaf City, Iraq, during April to December 2018. Polymers chain reaction technique was used to detect the presence of antimicrobial resistance-associated genes. From the 30 strains of citrobacter freundii, 15 strains (50%) were positive for bla-tem gene, 16 strains (53.3%) were positive for bla-shv gene, 21 strains (70%) were positive for bla-ctxm gene, 3 strains (10%) were positive for bla-ctxm-1 gene, 6 strains (20%) were positive for bla-ctxm-2 gene. Interestingly, it should be noted that no any strain form the 30 we tested was carrying pse1, bla-ctxm-8, bla-ctxm-9 or bla-ctxm-25 genes. Our data showed that 19 strains (63.3%) were positive for cat1 gene, 9 strains (30%) were positive for cat2 gene and 4 strains (13.3%) were positive for cat3 gene. On the other hand, 17 strains (56.6%) were carrying qnrA gene, 11 strains (36.6%) were carrying qnrB gene and aac(6')-Ib-cr gene. Also, the results proved that there were 7 strains (23.3%) being positive for sul1 gene and 11 strains (36.6%) were positive for sul2 gene. We also found 22 strains (73.3%) being positive for strA-strB gene and 4 isolates (13.3%) were positive for aacC1 genes. No strain carrying aacC2, tetA and tetB genes was identified. Citrobacter freundii harbor large numbers of different antimicrobial resistance-associated genes that enable this pathogen to escape the effect of antibiotics which make this bacteria highly resistant causing urinary tract infection.

OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences
Volume 19 No. 2, 2019, 132-145

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2019.132.145

Submitted On: 11 April 2019 Published On: 26 June 2019

How to Cite: Hayder, T. & Jaloob Aljanaby, A. A. (2019). Genotypic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance-Associated Genes in Citrobacter Freundii Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection in Al-Najaf Governorate-Iraq. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, 19(2), 132-145. https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2019.132.145

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Keywords

  • Citrobacter Freundii
  • Urinary Tract Infection
  • Antimicrobials Resistance-Associated Genes
  • Iraq