Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40442787›Full record

ArticleActa veterinaria Scandinavica2025

Whole-genome analysis of escherichia coli isolated from captive giant pandas (ailuropoda melanoleuca) at the Dujiangyan base of the China conservation and research center for the giant panda, Sichuan, China.

Hongyan Yu, Mengru Zhao, Maolin Lu, Hongjia Li, Shu Fang, Ruisi Zhang, Tianlu Liu, Zhiyou Lü, Mengchao Zhou, Yaxian Lu and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Acta veterinaria Scandinavica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hongyan YuCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Mengru ZhaoCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Maolin LuCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Hongjia LiCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Shu FangCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Ruisi ZhangCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Tianlu LiuCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Zhiyou LüCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Mengchao ZhouCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Yaxian LuCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
Tongzuo ZhangKey Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China. zhangtz@nwipb.cas.cn.
Zhijun HouCollege of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. houzhijundb@163.com.

Funding

the National Key Research and Development Program of China the National Key Research and Development Program of China
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a rare and vulnerable species facing threats from bacterial infections. The extensive use of antibiotics in disease prevention has raised concerns about antibiotic resistance, which reduces treatment efficacy and poses environmental and public health risks. This study aims to analyze the resistance profiles of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in captive pandas, providing insights into the antibiotic resistance genes within their gut microbiota. Twenty-two E. coli isolates were obtained from the feces of 22 captive giant pandas, and whole-genome sequencing was conducted. Sequence types and evolutionary relationships were determined through Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and core genome Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (cgMLST), while virulence and resistance genes were identified. Core genome SNP analysis was performed to establish genetic relationships, and AST was conducted to evaluate antibiotic resistance profiles. Whole-genome sequencing revealed 15 distinct sequence types (STs), with ST48 (22.7%, 5 isolates) and ST212 (18.2%, 4 isolates) identified as the dominant lineages. Further resolution using cgMLST revealed that ST48 encompassed multiple cgSTs distributed across different evolutionary branches, while all ST212 isolates belonged to a single cgST. These results demonstrate the utility of cgMLST in resolving genetic diversity and isolate relationships within dominant lineages. Core genome SNP-based phylogenetic analysis grouped isolates with similar serotypes and STs, including a pathogenic cluster closely related to a panda-derived E. coli isolate (AMSHJX04). A total of 88 virulence genes (average 52 per isolate) were widespread, including those involved in iron acquisition systems (yagZ/Y), fimbriae-associated genes (fimA/H), and type II secretion systems (gspM/K). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) showed 59.1% resistance to ciprofloxacin, 18.2% to norfloxacin, and 13.6% to tetracycline, while all isolates remained sensitive to gentamicin and amikacin. Resistance profiling identified 78 resistance genes, primarily efflux pumps (acrB/D, emrA/B) and tetracycline-related mutations (emrK/Y). The gut microbiota of captive giant pandas harbors multiple antibiotic resistance genes, indicating a risk of resistance gene spread. Diverse sequence types, virulence genes, and phylogenetic relationships reveal the genetic complexity of E. coli in this species. Some isolates showed genetic similarities to pathogenic E. coli, emphasizing the need for continuous bacterial monitoring. This threatens antibiotic efficacy, increases infection risks, and complicates health management, underscoring the urgency of addressing resistance in panda conservation.

Indexed as

Escherichia coliEscherichia coli InfectionsGenome, BacterialUrsidaeAnimalsAnimals, ZooAnti-Bacterial AgentsChinaDrug Resistance, BacterialFecesMultilocus Sequence TypingPhylogenyVirulenceWhole Genome SequencingAnti-Bacterial AgentsEscherichia coliGiant pandaMultiple resistance genesVirulence factorsWhole-genome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID40442787
PMCPMC12123739

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.