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Molecular studies of plasmids of multiply-resistant Shigella spp. in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

J. M. Ling
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
P. C. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
K. M. Kam
Affiliation:
Pathology Institute, Sai Ying Pun Hospital, Hong Kong
A. F. Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
G. L. French
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, UMDS, Guy’s Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, UK
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One hundred and two Shigella spp. isolated in two hospitals in Hong Kong were analysed for antibiotic resistances, resistance plasmids and plasmid profiles. Three quarters of the isolates were S.flexneri. All isolates harboured plasmids, up to a maximum of ten within one strain. Plasmids of 220 kb encoding resistances to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and sulphonamide and probably also associated with invasivenes in the Sereny test were found in 80 strains and were transferable in 18% of cases. Resistance plasmids of 92 and 99 kb were found in 27 and 15 strains respectively and encoded resistances to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, sulphonamide, trimethoprim, cotrimoxazole and gentamicin; these plasmids were usually transferable. Four plasmids of 3·9, 2·8, 2·2 and 1·8 kb were commonly found in S. flexneri strains, but were rare in other species. In contrast, there was no predominant plasmid profile in S. sonnei. S. flexneri is endemic in Hong Kong and these plasmid studies suggest that the strains in circulation are derived from only a few clones.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

References

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