# Genome Analysis of the Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter coli BCT3 of the Sequence Type (ST) 872 Isolated from a Pediatric Diarrhea Case

## TL;DR

This paper reports the genome analysis of a multidrug-resistant Campylobacter coli strain isolated from a child with diarrhea in Greece.

## Contribution

This is the first reported clinical case of a multidrug-resistant C. coli strain of sequence type ST872 in Greece.

## Key findings

- The strain BCT3 was found to be resistant to multiple antibiotics including ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and erythromycin.
- Genome sequencing identified resistance genes and mutations linked to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracyclines.
- The strain belongs to sequence type ST872 and clonal complex ST-828.

## Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the two main campylobacter species that cause foodborne campylobacteriosis. Recent studies have reported that Campylobacter spp. are prone to developing resistance to antibiotics commonly used for their treatment, with many C. coli strains identified as multidrug-resistant. This study presents the results of the whole-genome sequencing analysis of the multidrug-resistant C. coli strain BCT3 isolated in Greece from a stool specimen of a pediatric patient presenting with diarrhea. The strain was isolated using selective culture media and, based on antimicrobial susceptibility tests, was found to be resistant to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and doxycycline. To further characterize it, we performed whole-genome sequencing, which identified strain BCT3 as C. coli. Moreover, multilocus sequence typing assigned the BCT3 to the sequence type (ST) 872, belonging to clonal complex ST-828. The presence of multiple virulence genes revealed its pathogenic potential. The detection of antimicrobial resistance genes and mutated alleles was indicative of its resistance to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracyclines, supporting the observed phenotype. To our knowledge, this is the first reported clinical case of such a multidrug-resistant C. coli strain in Greece.