Antibiotic resistance in conjunctival and enteric bacterial flora in raptors housed in a zoological garden

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a wide range of infectious agents is a growing public health threat. Birds of prey are considered indicators of the presence of AMR bacteria in their ecosystem because of their predatory behaviour. Only few data are reported in the literature on AMR strains isolated from animals housed in zoos and none about AMR in raptors housed in zoological gardens. This study investigated the antibiotic sensitivity profile of the isolates obtained from the conjunctival and cloacal bacterial flora of 14 healthy birds of prey, 6 Accipitriformes, 3 Falconiformes and 5 Strigiformes, housed in an Italian zoological garden. Staphylococcus spp. was isolated from 50% of the conjunctival swabs, with S. xylosus as the most common species. From cloacal swabs, Escherichia coli was cultured from all animals, while Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. were isolated from a smaller number of birds. Worthy of note is the isolation of Escherichia fergusonii and Serratia odorifera, rarely isolated from raptors. Staphylococci were also isolated. All the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). To the author's knowledge, this is the first report regarding the presence of MDR strains within raptors housed in a zoological garden. Since resistance genes can be transferred to other pathogenic bacteria, this represents a potential hazard for the emergence of new MDR pathogens. In conclusion, the obtained data could be useful for ex‐situ conservation programmes aimed to preserve the health of the endangered species housed in a zoo.

Panophthalmitis in a Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis Papua) From The Antarctic Peninsula: Evaluation of Microbiological and Histopathological Analysis Outcomes

“…In the present study, based on strong TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4 and MMP-9 immunopositivity having been detected in the in ammatory cells, it was considered that the indicated cytokines and enzyme could have accompanied the development of the granuloma in the eye diagnosed with mixed bacterial infection. The microorganisms isolated from the eyes of a Gentoo penguin chick in the present study differ from those reported to have been isolated from the eyes of mammals and exotic birds in previous studies ( Silvanose et al 2001;Cullen, 2003;Bonelli et al 2014;Cakir et al 2014;Sala et al 2016). Furthermore, the microorganisms isolated in the present study have been determined to differ from the bacteria reported to have been detected in freshwater samples from the same location (Jara et al 2020).…”

Presence of Broad-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Zoo Mammals

“…In the report of Bender and Shulman, zoonotic disease outbreaks in humans, for example with E. coli O157, were associated with animal contact in petting zoos, farms and zoological parks [ 9 ]. Apart from transfer to humans, zoos may also facilitate transfer of resistant bacteria and/or resistance genes to other animals and environment, as animals are often exchanged during breeding programs and due to reintroduction of zoo animals and/or their offspring into the wild [ 10 ]. Furthermore, the increased popularity of free ranging animal exhibits in zoos may further facilitate interaction between other animals, humans and the environment [ 11 ].…”

Emergence of Raoultella ornithinolytica isolated from chicken products in Alexandria, Egypt

“…The three R. ornithinolytica samples were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests to evaluate their resistance profiles using antibiotic disks (Oxoid, U.K, depicted in Figure-4 ) [ 20 , 21 ]. The samples were exposed to 15 discrete antibiotics ( Table-2 ), the first sample demonstrated resistance to five types of antibiotic disks (FLX, ERY, P, AMC, and BAC), intermediate sensitivity was found to two antibiotics (AMX and AMP), and sensitivity to eight antibiotics (C, CS, NA, CIP, TE, OTC, AMK, and S).…”