Assessing the role of livestock and sympatric wild ruminants in spreading antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter and Salmonella in alpine ecosystems

Abstract

Background Livestock play an important role as reservoir of enteric pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a health and economic concern worldwide. However, little is known regarding the transmission and maintenance of these pathogens at the wildlife-livestock interface. In this study, we assessed the occurrence, genetic diversity and AMR of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. shed by sympatric free-ranging livestock and a wild herbivore in an alpine ecosystem. Results Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 23.3 % of cattle and 7.7 % of sheep but was not isolated from horses nor Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica). Campylobacter jejuni was the most frequent species. A high genetic diversity and certain host specificity of C. jejuni isolates was observed. The main AMR detected in Campylobacter isolates was to nalidixic acid (88.2 %), ciprofloxacin (82.4 %) and tetracycline (82.4 %); only 11.7 % of the isolates were pan-susceptible and 17.6 % were multi-resistant. Salmonella ser. Newport was isolated only from one Pyrenean chamois and was pan-susceptible. Conclusions Results show that free-ranging cattle and sheep are spreaders of Campylobacter as well as their AMR strains in the alpine environment. Therefore, contaminated alpine pastures or streams may constitute a source for the dissemination of AMR enteropathogens. However, apparently, alpine wild ungulates such as Pyrenean chamois play a negligible role in the epidemiology of zoonotic enteropathogens and AMR, and are not potential bioindicators of the burden of alpine environments.

Rural Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Not Likely to Be a Major Driver of Antimicrobial Resistant Human Salmonella Cases in Southern Ontario, Canada: A One Health Epidemiological Assessment Using Whole-Genome Sequence Data

“…Our course-grained epidemiological investigation of Salmonella from various sources in southern Ontario has provided insights into potential transmission between these different sources, and provides further evidence that, although raccoons have the potential to disseminate Salmonella and AMR to humans, their contribution appears to be minimal. Our findings build on existing work suggesting that wildlife play a largely indirect role in the transmission of Salmonella, serving primarily as biological intermediaries between humans, livestock and the environment, rather than acting as a primary driver or major reservoir (40)(41)(42)(43)(44). The identification of highly similar or identical cgMLST types (<10 allelic differences) was a rare occurrence in this population of over 600 isolates and was very specific to certain sources and serovars, highlighting potential transmission only in certain contexts (i.e., S. Heidelberg between poultry and humans, S. Newport between raccoons and soil).…”

Explorando la microbiota bacteriana fecal bovina en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí, norte de México

“…McAllister and Topp (87) estimate that about 77 % of the pathogens that usually infect livestock can also affect wildlife. However, also wildlife is considered an important source of microorganisms that could cause infectious diseases to domestic animals and humans (88,89) . For these reasons, it is important to develop studies focused on risk management at the interface of domestic species and native fauna, considering the implications for the transmission of microorganisms with pathogenic potential (88,89) .…”

“…However, also wildlife is considered an important source of microorganisms that could cause infectious diseases to domestic animals and humans (88,89) . For these reasons, it is important to develop studies focused on risk management at the interface of domestic species and native fauna, considering the implications for the transmission of microorganisms with pathogenic potential (88,89) . This information could lead to establish microbiological control strategies for wild fauna populations and livestock within the area.…”

The significance of biofilms to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health

“…However, the effects of fish introduction on biofilms remain unknown. Besides, pathogenic (potentially antimicrobial‐resistant) or toxin‐producing micro‐organisms may be introduced with fish or livestock (Espunyes et al., 2021; Hunter & Thompson, 2005). Here, biofilms could serve as detection site for pathogen pollution as done in human disease epidemiology to monitor environmental circulation of bacteria, protists and viruses (Bauman et al., 2009; Wingender & Flemming, 2011).…”