Abstract

Background:
The blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaSHV are the result of mutations in the ESBL enzyme which can be seen genotypically. Wild bats have never received antibiotic therapy, the presence of AMR in bats indicates the level of AMR in the environment, the circulation of ESBL Escherichia coli between humans or animals in Indonesia and wild animals is still not widely known. Whole genome sequencing is used to determine the circulation of ESBL Escherichia coli in detail.

Aim:
Our research aims to determine the genetic level of relatedness of blaTEM samples of cave bat isolates in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Methods:
This research is a laboratory exploration to detect ESBL genes in guano isolate samples from cave bats in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Samples were obtained by swabbing the rectum of live bats caught from caves on the island of West Nusa Tenggara Province, namely Lawah Cave and Saung Pengembur Cave. A total of 50 samples from Lawah cave and 85 samples from Saung Pengembur cave were identified to find an Escherichia coli bacteria using Gram-stain test and IMViC for biochemical test from isolates which showed a metallic green color on Eosin Methylene Blue Agar media. Escherichia coli isolates were tested for sensitivity using antibiotics, followed by a polymerase chain reaction test showed positive results for the blaTEM gene and phylogenetic analysis to determine relationships.

Results:
Phylogenetic analysis shows a genetic closeness between the isolates from Lawah cave and Saung Pengembur cave is 95%. Between samples from Lawah and Saung Pengembur cave, we found there was a closeness of 86% to the E. coli strain A2-2 sample from Thailand with the code OR680712.1. at GenBank.

Conclusion:
The blaTEM gene characteristics of bat isolates from West Nusa Tenggara are close to pig isolates from Thailand. The genetic proximity between blaTEM gene samples from Lawah Cave and Saung Pengembar Cave analyzed using the phylogenetic tree shows a closeness to samples from Thailand, even though they come from samples with distant locations, which can have a negative impact on human health.

Key words: Antimicrobial resistance, Bats, blaTEM, ESBL, Human health