Genetic detection of Resistance Genes among Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter spp. isolates

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq

^* Corresponding author: nabeel.tuwaij@uokufa.edu.iq

Abstract

Internationally, there is an increasing prevalence of diseases caused by germs that are resistant to many drugs, which is often a reason for worry. The objective of the present investigation was to identify specific genes linked to the resistance of beta-lactam, macrolide, and sulfa medications in Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter spp. isolates. A total of 364 patients were included in the study, with 132 (36.26%) being male and 232 (63.74%) being female. The results indicated that 135 samples, accounting for 37.08% of the total, exhibited positive bacterial growth. The findings indicated that Enterobacter cloacae was present in 25 (6.86%) of the patients with urinary tract infections, whereas Citrobacter spp. was found in only 2 (0.54%) cases (consisting of 1 (0.27%) C. freundii isolate and 1 (0.27%) C. farmer isolate). The PCR findings indicated that the sul-1 gene was present in 23 out of 25 (92%) E. cloacae isolates and in 2 out of 2 (100%) Citrobacter spp. isolates. On the other hand, the sul-2 gene was detected in 22 out of 25 (88%) E. cloacae isolates and in 2 out of 2 (100%) Citrobacter spp. isolates. The mph(A) gene was present in 80% (20/25) of E. cloacae isolates and in 100% (2/2) of Citrobacter spp. isolates. The findings showed that 96% of the E. cloacae isolates and 100% of the Citrobacter spp. isolates tested positive for both ctx-m and ctx-m-10 genes. The prevalence of the veb gene in E. cloacae isolates was 76% (19/25), but in Citrobacter spp. isolates it was 100% (2/2). The investigation did not detect the gene ctx-m-14 in any of the local isolates examined. Genes of sul-3 and ctx-m-14 were no recorded in this study.