Epidemiology of Campylobacter, Salmonella and antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli in free‐living Canada geese (Branta canadensis) from three sources in southern Ontario

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria and zoonotic pathogens have previously been isolated from Canada geese. We examined the prevalence of three enteric bacteria (i.e. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia coli) among Canada geese from three sampling sources in southern Ontario from 2013 through 2015. Samples were obtained by convenience from hunting groups, diagnostic birds submitted for post-mortem, and fresh faeces from live birds in parks. Escherichia coli isolates were isolated and tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobials using the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance test panel. The prevalences of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli were 0%, 11.2% and 72.6%, respectively. Among E. coli isolates, 7.9% were resistant to ≥1 class of antimicrobials and 5.6% were resistant to ≥2 classes of antimicrobials, with some including resistance to antimicrobials of highest importance in human medicine. A significant association between season and E. coli resistance among samples from live birds was noted; summer samples had no resistant E. coli isolates, whereas spring samples demonstrated the highest prevalence of E. coli resistant to ≥1 class of antimicrobials (20.0%) among all sources. In addition, Campylobacter coli were only isolated from the spring faecal samples. Flock-level clustering was an important statistical consideration, as flock was a significant random effect in all but two of our models. Detection of Campylobacter and antimicrobial resistant E. coli from Canada geese suggests that these birds may play a role in disseminating these organisms within the environment.

A repeated cross‐sectional study of the epidemiology of Campylobacter and antimicrobial resistant Enterobacteriaceae in free‐living Canada geese in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

“…Overall, we identified a relatively low prevalence of potentially zoonotic organisms in Canada geese, which was consistent with our previous study of these birds in southern Ontario (Vogt et al, ). Our exploration of seasonal patterns revealed that geese may carry a higher prevalence of certain microorganisms during seasons when bird movement is increased.…”

“…Four of the six C. jejuni CGF40 subtypes identified in this study were identical to CGF40 subtypes identified in our previous study of Canada goose samples collected in southern Ontario (2013–2015; Vogt et al, ). Two of these CGF40 subtypes were identified in the same urban recreational area within Guelph in both the present and previous study (Vogt et al, ). One of these CGF40 subtypes was identified within Guelph, but in a different urban recreational area from the previous study.…”

“…One of these CGF40 subtypes was identified within Guelph, but in a different urban recreational area from the previous study. The remaining CGF40 subtypes were previously identified in hunted birds sampled in agricultural areas in southern Ontario in 2013 and 2014, as far as 110 km away from Guelph (Vogt et al, ). In our previous study, six additional unique CGF40 subtypes were identified in the same urban recreational areas sampled in our present study.…”

“…The same swab was used to isolate both Salmonella and E. coli . Methods used to isolate Salmonella and E. coli were described elsewhere (Vogt et al, ). Briefly, swabs were enriched in 4.5 ml of buffered peptone water (BPW; Becton, Dickson and Co., Sparks, MD, USA) and incubated at 37°C for 18–24 hr and then examined for growth.…”

“…Our previous work examining three different sources of Canada goose samples (i.e. hunted birds, fresh faecal samples from live birds, diagnostic specimens) identified a seasonal trend in the prevalence of both Campylobacter and antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli among faecal samples from live birds (Vogt et al, ). The highest prevalence of both Campylobacter and resistant E. coli coincided with seasons of increased bird movement (spring and fall).…”