Novel plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mcr-4 g ene in Salmonella and Escherichia coli , Italy 2013, Spain and Belgium, 2015 to 2016

A novel mcr colistin resistance gene was identified in a strain of Salmonella enterica , monophasic variant of serovar Typhimurium (4,5,12:i:- ), isolated from a pig at slaughter in Italy in 2013, and in Escherichia coli strains collected during routine diagnostic of post-weaning diarrhoea in pigs from Spain and Belgium in 2015 and 2016. Immediate implementation of mcr -screening including this novel gene variant is required for Salmonella and E. coli from humans and food-producing animals in Europe.