Prevalence of multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas spp. isolated from wild bird feces in an urban aquatic environment

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 11; no. 20; pp. 14303 - 14311
• Main Authors: G. C. Rodrigues, Joana, Nair, Harisree P., O'Kane, Christopher, Walker, Caray A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-10-2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Animal populations; Animals; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Aquatic environment; Avifauna; Bacteria; Birds; Cefepime; Ciprofloxacin; Contamination; Ecosystems; Environmental impact; epidemiological studies; Feces; Microbiota; Multidrug resistance; Nosocomial infections; one health; Original Research; Pathogens; Phylogenetics; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas spp; Public health; wild birds; Wildlife; Zoonoses; United Kingdom > UK; wild birds; Pseudomonas spp; one health; epidemiological studies; antimicrobial resistance
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8146

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been detected in the microbiota of wildlife, yet little is known about the origin and impact within the ecosystem. Due to the shortage of nonepizootic surveillance, there is limited understanding of the natural prevalence and circulation of AMR bacteria in the wild animal population, including avian species. In this surveillance study, feces from wild birds in proximity to the River Cam, Cambridge, England, were collected and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated. Of the 115 samples collected, 24 (20.9%; 95% CI, 12.6%‒29.2%) harbored Pseudomonas spp. of which 18 (75%; 95% CI, 58%‒92%) had a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index greater than 0.2. No Pseudomonas spp. isolate in this study was pansusceptible. Resistance was found among the 24 isolates against ciprofloxacin (87.5%; 95% CI, 74.3%‒100%) and cefepime (83.3%; 95% CI, 68.4%‒98.2%), both of which are extensively used to treat opportunistic Pseudomonas spp. infections. The prevalence of Pseudomonas spp. in the wild bird feces sampled during this study is greater than previous, similar studies. Additionally, their multidrug resistance profile provides insight into the potential risk for ecosystem contamination. It further highlights the importance of a One Health approach, including ongoing surveillance efforts that help to develop the understanding of how wildlife, including avifauna, may contribute and disperse AMR across the ecosystem.
Wild bird fecal samples were collected from urban areas surrounding the River Cam. A 20.9% Pseudomonas spp. prevalence rate was found in a total of 115 faecal samples. The majority (75%) of the isolates were resistant to more than one antibiotic tested.