Aeromonas and Plesiomonas species from scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) and their environment: monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence

Abstract

The present study aimed at evaluating the role of captive scarlet ibises (Eudocimus ruber) and their environment as reservoirs of Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas spp., and analyzing the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence of the recovered bacterial isolates. Thus, non-lactose and weak-lactose fermenting, oxidase positive Gram-negative bacilli were recovered from cloacal samples (n = 30) of scarlet ibises kept in a conservational facility and from water samples (n = 30) from their environment. Then, the antimicrobial susceptibility, hemolytic activity and biofilm production of the recovered Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas shigelloides strains were assessed. In addition, the virulence-associated genes of Aeromonas spp. were detected. Ten Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria, 2 Aeromonas hydrophila complex and 10 P. shigelloides were recovered. Intermediate susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam and cefepime was observed in 2 Aeromonas spp. and 1 P. shigelloides, respectively, and resistance to gentamicin was observed in 4 P. shigelloides. The automated susceptibility analysis revealed resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem among Aeromonas spp. and intermediate susceptibility to gentamicin among P. shigelloides. All Aeromonas isolates presented hemolytic activity, while 3 P. shigelloides were non-hemolytic. All Aeromonas spp. and 3/10 P. shigelloides were biofilm-producers, at 28 °C, while 10 Aeromonas spp. and 6/10 P. shigelloides produced biofilms, at 37 °C. The most prevalent virulence genes of Aeromonas spp. were asa1 and ascV. Scarlet ibises and their environment harbour potentially pathogenic bacteria, thus requiring monitoring and measures to prevent contamination of humans and other animals.

<p>A Novel Transposon, Tn<em>6518</em>, Mediated Transfer of <em>mcr-3</em> Variant in ESBL-Producing<em> Aeromonas veronii</em></p>

“…To date, they have been shown to infect a vast number of hosts, including fish, domestic chickens, lower and higher vertebrates, and humans. [1][2][3] In animals, Aeromonas species cause illnesses ranging from furunculosis and diarrhea to septicemia. 4 However, because of the wile use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in clinical settings, agriculture, and aquaculture, there has been an increase in antibiotic resistance among disease-causing Aeromonas species.…”

BACTERIA PRESENT IN SCARLET IBIS (Eudocimus ruber) CHICKS, BABITONGA BAY, SANTA CATARINA STATE, BRAZIL

“…We observed that in the 2015/2016 breeding season, some cloacal samples of scarlet ibis did not show any bacterial growth, while in the 2016/2017 season, at least two isolates were identified in each of the samples. Castelo-Branco et al (14) observed that in scarlet ibis, habitat and feeding could be responsible for the bacteriological composition, which reinforces the importance of environmental monitoring. Five genera of bacteria were observed in total.…”

“…Castelo-Branco et al (2017) (14) examined whether captive scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) in Mangal das Garças Park (Belém-PA) are reservoirs and carriers of Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas spp.…”

“…The research demonstrated that scarlet ibis could act as reservoirs of fish and human pathogens due to their diet, based on crustaceans and fish. Monitoring of the environment occupied by these birds is extremely important due to the possibility of transmission of diseases by water and food (14) .…”

“…Information on the health of scarlet ibis is scarce (14) , especially when it comes to wild individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to identify bacteria associated with scarlet ibis in a reproductive colony in Babitonga Bay, north coast of Santa Catarina.…”