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. 2020 Jan;26(1):81-89.
doi: 10.3201/eid2601.190885.

High Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Strawberry Fields, China, 2018

Yong Chen, Fengshou Dong, Jingya Zhao, Hong Fan, Chunping Qin, Runan Li, Paul E Verweij, Yongquan Zheng, Li Han

High Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Strawberry Fields, China, 2018

Yong Chen et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

In 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate azole resistance in environmental Aspergillus fumigatus isolates obtained from different agricultural fields in China. Using 63 soil cores, we cultured for azole-resistant A. fumigatus and characterized isolates by their cyp51A gene type, short tandem repeat genotype, and mating type. Of 206 A. fumigatus isolates, 21 (10.2%) were azole resistant. Nineteen of 21 had mutations in their cyp51A gene (5 TR34/L98H, 8 TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I, 6 TR46/Y121F/T289A). Eighteen were cultured from soil samples acquired from strawberry fields, suggesting this soil type is a potential hotspot for azole resistance selection. Twenty resistant isolates were mating type MAT1-1, suggesting asexual sporulation contributed to their evolution. Prochloraz, difenoconazole, and tebuconazole were the most frequently detected fungicides in soil samples with azole-resistant fungus. Our study results suggest that managing the fungicides used in agriculture will help contain the problem of antifungal drug resistance in clinics.

Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; China; MAT1-1; STR type; agriculture; antifungal drug resistance; antimicrobial resistance; asexual reproduction; asexual sporulation; azole fungicides; azole resistance; cyp51A; epidemiology; farms; fungi; resistance hotspot; short tandem repeat typing; strawberries; strawberry fields.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Genotypes of 21 azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates obtained from farm soils in China, 2018 (black dots), and other azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates from China. This dendrogram was constructed on the basis of a categorical analysis of 9 microsatellite markers (short tandem repeats 2A–4C) by using the UPGMA. Scale bar indicates percentage identity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Minimum spanning tree of 21 environmental azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus (ARAF) isolates, China, 2018 (labeled), and 580 other ARAF and azole-susceptible A. fumigatus isolates. The tree was constructed on the basis of short tandem repeat type for all 9 microsatellite markers. Each circle represents 1 unique short tandem repeat genotype but might include multiple cyp51A variants. All ARAF isolates from Nanjing are located in the upper right clade of the tree, which represents a major clone complex of ARAF strains disseminated worldwide. All 5 TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I and 4 TR46/Y121F/T289A isolates from Hangzhou are located in the lower right clade of the tree, consisting mainly of azole-susceptible A. fumigatus isolates.
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