Risk Factors for Infection with Pathogenic and Antimicrobial-Resistant Fecal Bacteria in Northern Elephant Seals in California

• Published in: Public health reports (1974) Vol. 123; no. 3; pp. 360 - 370
• Main Authors: Stoddard, Robyn A., Atwill, Edward R., Gulland, Frances M.D., Miller, Melissa A., Dabritz, Haydee A., Paradies, Dave M., Worcester, Karen R., Jang, Spencer, Lawrence, Judy, Byrne, Barbara A., Conrad, Patricia A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Association of Schools of Public Health 01-05-2008; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Animals; Antimicrobials; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; California - epidemiology; Campylobacter Infections - epidemiology; Campylobacter Infections - veterinary; Campylobacter jejuni - drug effects; Campylobacter jejuni - isolation & purification; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Elephantidae; Elephants; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli Infections - epidemiology; Escherichia coli Infections - veterinary; Feces - microbiology; Fresh Water; Infections; Marine mammals; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Pathology; Precipitation; Predisposing factors; Prevalence; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Salmonella; Salmonella enterica - drug effects; Salmonella enterica - isolation & purification; Salmonella Infections, Animal - epidemiology; Seals; Seals, Earless - microbiology; Sewage; Veterinary Medicine; Water Microbiology; California; United States; North America; America; USA, California; Mirounga leonina; Carnivora; Pathogenesis; Pinnipedia; Antimicrobial agent; Infection; Resistance; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Pathogenic; Risk factor; Bacteria; North; Feces; Public health
• ISSN: 0033-3549; 1468-2877
• DOI: 10.1177/003335490812300316

Objectives. The goal of this study was to identify potential environmental and demographic factors associated with Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Salmonella enterica (Salmonella spp.), and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection in northern elephant seals stranded along the California coastline. Methods. E. coli, Salmonella spp., and C. jejuni were isolated from rectal swabs from 196 juvenile northern elephant seals, which were found stranded and alive along the California coast and brought to The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, for rehabilitation. Gender, weight, county where the animal stranded, month stranded, coastal human population density, exposure to sewage outfall or freshwater outflow (river or stream), and cumulative precipitation in the previous 24 hours, seven days, 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days were analyzed as potential risk factors for infection. Results. The odds of C. jejuni and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli were higher in feces of seals stranded at sites with higher levels of freshwater outflow compared with lower levels of freshwater outflow. The odds of Salmonella spp. in feces were 5.4 times greater in seals stranded in locations with lower levels of 30-day cumulative precipitation, along with substantially lower odds of Salmonella shedding for seals stranded in Monterey or Santa Cruz county compared with seals stranded in regions further north or south of this central California location. Conclusions. Juvenile northern elephant seals that have entered the water are being colonized by antimicrobial-resistant and pathogenic fecal bacteria that may be acquired from terrestrial sources transmitted via river and surface waters.