Distinct ESBL dissemination mechanism associated with the hybrid transposon Tn1721/Tn21 in blaCTX-M-15-carrying Salmonella Enteritidis from poultry in South Korea.

UNLABELLED: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is emerging as a significant threat to food safety via its limitation of therapeutic options and potential transmission through poultry products. However, the structural and genetic characteristics of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) associated with horizontal transfer of the ESBL gene in S. Enteritidis isolates from poultry remain insufficiently characterized. The present study aimed to identify and characterize the ESBL gene and its associated MGEs and to assess their distribution. Whole-genome sequencing was applied to ESBL-producing and non-ESBL-producing isolates in combination with pan-genome analysis, conjugation assays, and comparative genomics using publicly available genomes. Among 17 isolates, 9 were ESBL-producing and all carried blaCTX-M-15. We observed co-transfer of blaCTX-M-15, tetA, and the IncF plasmid at relatively high frequencies (2.0-5.3 × 10⁻²) in ESBL-producing isolates. Moreover, we identified a hybrid transposon (Tn1721/Tn21) inserted into IncF plasmids that comprised elements of Tn21 (merRTPCADE, tniA, and urf2) and Tn1721 (tetA, tetR, a DMT-family efflux gene, and a partial tnpA), with ISEcp1 and blaCTX-M-15 adjacent to the hybrid transposon. Tn1721/Tn21 was prevalent among blaCTX-M-15-carrying S. Enteritidis isolates from South Korea (19/20) but absent in those from other countries (n = 9), suggesting geographical variation. This study identified a unique hybrid Tn1721/Tn21 transposon as the dominant MGE in blaCTX-M-15-carrying S. Enteritidis from South Korean poultry, highlighting its potential role in the regional dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Continued surveillance and targeted intervention in poultry production are warranted to mitigate the spread of ESBL-producing S. Enteritidis.

IMPORTANCE: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis from poultry represents a growing public health threat due to limited treatment options and the potential for transmission through the food chain. Despite this concern, the mobile genetic elements underlying ESBL gene dissemination remain insufficiently characterized in South Korean poultry-associated S. Enteritidis isolates. In this study, we identified a hybrid transposon, Tn1721/Tn21, embedded within IncF plasmids and linked to blaCTX-M-15 in S. Enteritidis isolates. This association between Tn1721/Tn21 and blaCTX-M-15 suggests a region-specific mechanism of resistance dissemination that may reflect antimicrobial selective pressure within poultry production systems. These findings highlight the importance of integrated One Health surveillance to mitigate the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance across animal and human populations.