Wild Boars as an Indicator of Environmental Spread of ESβL-Producing Escherichia coli

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents an increasing issue worldwide, spreading not only in humans and farmed animals but also in wildlife. One of the most relevant problems is represented by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESβLs) producing Escherichia coli because they are the cause of important infections in human. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) as a source of ESβLs attracted attention due to their increasing density and their habits that lead them to be at the human-livestock-wildlife interface. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge about the ESβLs E. coli strains carried by wild boars living in a particularly high-density area of Northern Italy. The analysis of 60 animals allowed to isolate 16 ESβL-producing E. coli strains (prevalence 23.3%), which were characterised from a phenotypical and molecular point of view. The overall analysis revealed that the 16 isolates were all not only ESβL producers but also multidrug resistant and carried different types of plasmid replicons. The genome analysis performed on a subset of isolates confirmed the heterogeneity observed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and highlighted the presence of two pandemic sequence types, ST131 and ST10, with different collections of virulence factors. The genomic context of ESβL genes further evidenced that all of them were surrounded by transposons and insertion sequences, suggesting the possibility to exchange AMR genes. Overall, this study shows the worrying dissemination of ESβL-producing E. coli in wild boars in Northern Italy, suggesting the role of these animals as a spreader of AMR and their inclusion in surveillance programmes, to shed light on the “One Health” complex interactions.

Antimicrobial Resistant E. coli in Pork and Wild Boar Meat: A Risk to Consumers

“…All of the wild boar amikacin-resistant E. coli harbored AMEs gene, particularly Aac(6′)-Ib . Additionally, Poirel et al [ 49 ] and Mercato et al [ 51 ] reported that the Aac(6′)-Ib gene was the most frequently found one in game animals.…”

Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes viverrinus) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan: Emergence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant human-related clones

“…Many studies have been conducted in a similar manner [i.e. using cephalosporin-additive or the specific-selective agars) to investigate the prevalence of ESC resistance in E. coli isolated from terrestrial wild animals worldwide, including macaque (0%) and wild boars (33.0%) in Algeria [19]; wild boars (4.5%) in Spain [20]; various wild mammals (1.5%) in France [21]; wild boars (1.2%) and ruminants (1.1%) in Germany [22]; wild boars (23.3%) in Italy [23]; badger (8.9%) and fox (11.53%) in Ireland [24]; red foxes (10.5%) and martens (7.5%) in Poland [25]; wild boars (14%) in Tunisia [26]; and raccoons (56.9%) in the United States [9]]. These results implied that the prevalence of ESC-resistant E. coli isolates from wild animals is greatly different by animal species, which is closely related to their habitat and/or feeding habit and country, and Japanese raccoon dogs are comparable to other terrestrial wild animals in terms of ESC-resistant E. coli reservoir.…”

“…using cephalosporin-additive or the specific-selective agars) to investigate the prevalence of ESC resistance in E. coli isolated from terrestrial wild animals worldwide, including macaque (0%) and wild boars (33.0%) in Algeria [19]; wild boars (4.5%) in Spain [20]; various wild mammals (1.5%) in France [21]; wild boars (1.2%) and ruminants (1.1%) in Germany [22]; wild boars (23.3%) in Italy [23]; badger (8.9%) and fox (11.53%) in Ireland [24]; red foxes (10.5%) and martens (7.5%) in Poland [25]; wild boars (14%) in Tunisia [26]; and raccoons (56.9%) in the United States [9]]. These results implied that the prevalence of ESC-resistant E.…”

One Health at gunpoint: Impact of wild boars as exotic species in Brazil - A review

“…Human greed and commercial activities guided by hunting culminated on wild boar release, intentional scape and spreading in all six Brazilian biomes, including national and state preservation units, agricultural lands, and livestock pastures, with similar wide spreading in the USA, invading 35/50 (70%) states [ 97 , 98 ]. Surprisingly, wild boars have been reportedly indicated as a One Health concern worldwide only (and recently) for circulating zoonotic protozoa and viruses in Portugal [ 99 ] and dissemination of antimicrobial resistant E. coli in Northern Italy, suggesting wild boar role as antibiotic resistance spreader, requesting inclusion in surveillance programs [ 100 ].…”