Antibiotic-resistance patterns of enteric bacteria of wild mammals on the Krakatau Islands and West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Apart from feral pigs on Panjang, rats ( Rattus rattus and Rattus tiomanicus ) and bats (various families, genera and species) are the only mammals resident on the Krakatau Islands. The two species of rat occur on separate islands, R. rattus on Rakata and R. tiomanicus on Panjang and Sertung. Both occur on Java. Of the two genera of bats examined, species of Cynopterus were found on Java and all the Krakatau islands, whereas Myotis muricola muricola was detected only on Java and Rakata. The main faecal bacteria of these mammals were shown to be Escherichia coli and species of Klebsiella , Enterobacter and Citrobacter , with other bacteria (e.g. Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Aeromonas sp., Serratia sp., Proteus/ Providenca sp., Morganella sp. and Streptococcus faecalis ) being present in only a minority of individuals Significant differences were noted between the faecal floras of the two rat species. E. coli was always present in R. rattus , but was less frequent in R. tiomanicus (p < 0.05), whereas species of Klebsiella and Citrobacter were less frequent in R. rattus than in R. tiomanicus (p < 0.05). Differences between the faecal floras of the two bat genera were less significant, with the four main faecal bacteria being present in each genus. However, some individual M. muricola muricola yielded S. faeclis, Morganella sp. and Proteus/Providencia sp. whereas species of Cynopterus did not ( p < 0.05). S. faecalis was detected in rats and the bat M. muricola muricola on Java, but not in mammals on the Krakataus. This may be related to the absence of humans and their domesticated animals on the Krakatau islands. Only on Java did rats carry tetracycline-resistant E. coli or tetracycline-resistant species of Klebsiella . This may be related to the widespread use of tetracycline by humans on Java, where tetracycline is available without medical supervision. Isolates of E. coli from rats on Panjang were more resistant to chloramphenicol than were E. coli isolated from rats on the other islands of the Krakatau group, and isolates of Klebsiella from bats on Panjang were more resistant to sulphamethoxazole than were Klebsiella species isolated from bats on Rakata. The reason for faecal bacteria from Panjang mammals being more antibiotic resistant than those from mammals on other islands of the group is unclear, but may be related to differences in diet and vegetation, or the presence of feral pigs on Panjang only.

Bacteria richness and antibiotic-resistance in bats from a protected area in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil

“…marcescens isolates presented any resistance besides the intrinsic ones. The small rates of resistant bacteria observed on CBSP in consistently different from those observed in other studies conducted on areas influenced by anthropic activities [ 17 , 20 , 63 , 64 ]. A study conducted on Krakatau Islands found a great number of resistant bacteria on local bats and rats, which they correlated, in part, to anthropic influence on the local islands [ 20 ].…”

Characterization of ESBL-Producing Enterobacteria from Fruit Bats in an Unprotected Area of Makokou, Gabon

“…Among bats, the Pteropodidae family (large oldworld and mostly frugivorous bats) are suspected to play an important role in the dynamic of zoonosis. Many species are colonials with individuals roosting in close physical proximity that favors multiple interactions and opportunities for intraspecific pathogen transmission [4][5][6][7]. Most of the species have a wide-ranging distribution, and many urban colonies of several thousands of individuals are established in African or Asian countries, increasing the opportunities for bat-human pathogen transmission.…”

Antimicrobial-resistant faecalEscherichia coliin wild mammals in central Europe: multiresistantEscherichia coliproducing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in wild boars

“…2003). A study of antibiotic resistance in E. coli from rats in Indonesia has suggested that tetracycline‐resistant E. coli has become established in rats in West Java, whereas rats on the nearby uninhabited Krakatau Islands do not contain these bacteria (Graves et al. 1988).…”

“…Resistance to tetracycline had been frequent (unlike other antibiotics tested) also in E. coli isolates from bank voles examined in Poland (Swiecicka et al 2003). A study of antibiotic resistance in E. coli from rats in Indonesia has suggested that tetracycline-resistant E. coli has become established in rats in West Java, whereas rats on the nearby uninhabited Krakatau Islands do not contain these bacteria (Graves et al 1988). It was concluded that excessive or uncontrolled use of antibiotics by human population in areas where faecal contamination of the environment is inevitable leads to changes in the enteric flora of wild mammals living in these areas.…”

“…Attention has been given to some species of wild mammals regarding the occurrence of commensal resistant E. coli in various parts of the world (Rolland et al 1985;Routman et al 1985;Graves et al 1988;Kinjo et al 1992;Gilliver et al 1999;Livermore et al 2001;Swiecicka et al 2003;Costa et al 2006;Kozak et al 2009;Schierack et al 2009). An extensive study analysing antibiotic resistance in 449 E. coli isolates from 77 wild mammal species of 14 families was carried out in Australia (Sherley et al 2000).…”