This study identified and characterised class 1 and 2 integrons in clinical and environmental
Vibrio cholerae
O1 and non-O1/non-O139 strains isolated from the Brazilian Amazon. The
aadA2 and
aadA7 gene cassettes were found in class 1 integrons in two genotypes of environmental
V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139. Empty integrons were found in strains from the Brazilian cholera epidemic. A class 2 integron was detected in one strain from the
V. cholerae Amazonia lineage harbouring
sat1 and
aadA1 genes. All isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides, indicating
aadA functionality. These findings suggest that environmental bacteria act as cassette reservoirs that favour the emergence of resistant pathogens.
