Antimicrobial Resistance Glides in the Sky—Free-Living Birds as a Reservoir of Resistant Escherichia coli With Zoonotic Potential

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important global health concerns; therefore, the identification of AMR reservoirs and vectors is essential. Attention should be paid to the recognition of potential hazards associated with wildlife as this field still seems to be incompletely explored. In this context, the role of free-living birds as AMR carriers is noteworthy. Therefore, we applied methods used in AMR monitoring, supplemented by colistin resistance screening, to investigate the AMR status of Escherichia coli from free-living birds coming from natural habitats and rescue centers. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of strains enabled to determine resistance mechanisms and investigate their epidemiological relationships and virulence potential. As far as we know, this study is one of the few that applied WGS of that number (n = 71) of strains coming from a wild avian reservoir. The primary concerns arising from our study relate to resistance and its determinants toward antimicrobial classes of the highest priority for the treatment of critical infections in people, e.g., cephalosporins, quinolones, polymyxins, and aminoglycosides, as well as fosfomycin. Among the numerous determinants, blaCTX–M–15, blaCMY–2, blaSHV–12, blaTEM–1B, qnrS1, qnrB19, mcr-1, fosA7, aac(3)-IIa, ant(3”)-Ia, and aph(6)-Id and chromosomal gyrA, parC, and parE mutations were identified. Fifty-two sequence types (STs) noted among 71 E. coli included the global lineages ST131, ST10, and ST224 as well as the three novel STs 11104, 11105, and 11194. Numerous virulence factors were noted with the prevailing terC, gad, ompT, iss, traT, lpfA, and sitA. Single E. coli was Shiga toxin-producing. Our study shows that the clonal spread of E. coli lineages of public and animal health relevance is a serious avian-associated hazard.

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

“…The predominant types of genotypic resistance identified in the subset of swine farm isolates from the previous wildlife research study were to aminoglycosides and fosfomycin (mediated by fosA7, but not tested phenotypically). This unusual finding of fosA7 or fosA7-like genes in wildlife has recently been documented in a white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Poland (54), and in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) in Chile (55), following its initial discovery among S. Heidelberg from broiler chickens in British Colombia, Canada (56). Fosfomycin, an old antibiotic that has once again regained popularity due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant (particularly ciprofloxacinresistant) lower urinary tract infections in humans ( 57) is currently considered a critically important antimicrobial by the World Health Organization.…”

Presence of β-Lactamase-producing Enterobacterales and Salmonella Isolates in Marine Mammals

“…It was in all K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis isolates, in one Salmonella isolate, and in 18 E. coli isolates identified as bla CMY-2 , which encodes the most prevalent pAmpC enzyme in humans, livestock, and companion animals worldwide [ 7 , 9 ]. Moreover, bla CMY-2 has been detected in different wildlife species [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. In two E. coli isolates (IDs 206 and 230a), bla CMY-2 is predicted to be encoded chromosomally, which was described in 2015 for the first time in E. coli [ 39 ].…”

Emergence and Spread of Cephalosporinases in Wildlife: A Review

“…In total, CB detection has been reported in 188 different species, with a clear taxonomic bias towards birds, as this is the taxon accounting for over half of the publications (151 publications, 69%) (Figure 3). Birds have been widely under focus in AMR studies due to their long-range movements and exposure to anthropogenic sources, such as landfills and urban wastewater [19], acquiring and dispersing AMR bacteria within and between regions across long expanses of water, forestry, or desert on their migrations [20,21]. In fact, our results show that 48% of the publications related to birds focused on migratory species.…”

“…This is most likely because of their wide abundance and distribution worldwide but also because some species may come in close contact with humans, not only because they establish a clear link between natural and humanized areas but also because they are game species in many countries, and access to fresh samples from hunterharvested animals is thus easy. In Europe, hunting, whether as a cultural or wildlife Birds have been widely under focus in AMR studies due to their long-range movements and exposure to anthropogenic sources, such as landfills and urban wastewater [19], acquiring and dispersing AMR bacteria within and between regions across long expanses of water, forestry, or desert on their migrations [20,21]. In fact, our results show that 48% of the publications related to birds focused on migratory species.…”