A survey of antimicrobial resistance in <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from wild sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon</i>) in Japan

Abstract

We examined the antimicrobial susceptibility of 848 Escherichia coli isolates from 237 feces samples of wild sika deer ( Cervus nippon ) captured between 2016 and 2019 in 39 of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Five of the 237 wild sika deer (2.1%) carried E. coli with resistance to at least one antimicrobial, and all the resistant isolates showed resistance to tetracycline. The resistant isolates contained antimicrobial resistance genes that were similar to those in E. coli derived from humans and farm animals. Although wild sika deer are not currently likely to be a source for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in Japan, they can potentially mediate antimicrobial resistance spread by coming into contact with humans, animals, and their surroundings.

Whole-genome sequence analysis of Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 strains isolated from wild deer and boar in Japan

“…Contrary, deer captured in urban area, where they prohibited for feeding deer and garbage dumping showed lower rate of drug-resistant bacteria than those in deer captured in other urban area. Tamamura-Andoh et al [48] reported that although the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in wild deer was low (1.1%), properties, including the repertoires of antimicrobial resistance genes and other molecular characteristics in the E. coli strains were common with those in E. coli derived from humans and farm animals. Actually, some of the STEC O157-positive deer in prefectures H and U were caught in an area located close to farms in this study.…”

A survey of antimicrobial-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> prevalence in wild mammals in Japan using antimicrobial-containing media

“…Escherichia coli is a commensal bacterium prevalent in the intestines of many animal species and is used as a bacterial indicator of AMR [8]. Recent studies on antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in wild animals in Japan revealed a low prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in Japanese serows in the 1980s [15], wild mice in 2006 [11], wild cranes in 2007-2008 [16], deer and wild boars in 2013-2017 [1], deer in 2016-2019 [27], great cormorants in 2018-2019 [20], greater white0-fronted geese in 2019 [7], and Amami rabbits in 2017-2020 [18]. However, the application of antimicrobial-containing media for the isolation of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli indicated a high prevalence of fluoroquinoloneresistant E. coli in deer in urban regions [10] and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli in weasels around animal facilities [33].…”

Current status and future perspective of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in animal-breeding environments

“…Wildlife animals, such as field mice and deer, have minimal contact with humans and rarely harbor ARB [3,35,69]. However, some small mammals, such as rodents, can be found in farm environments.…”