Enumeration and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Fecal Indicator Organisms Isolated From Migratory Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis)

Abstract

Thermotolerant fecal indicator organisms carried by migratory waterfowl may serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance. To determine the extent to which such antibiotic resistance markers were present in migratory Canada geese (Branta canadensis) on the Maryland Eastern Shore, we isolated Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli from fresh feces and examined the antibiotic resistance profiles of these bacteria. Samples were obtained in October 2002, January 2003, and March 2003. Thermotolerant E. coli counts ranged from 0 to 1.0x10(7) colony forming units (CFU)/0.1g (g-1) wet weight of feces, whereas Enterococcus spp. counts ranged from 1.0x10(2)-1.0x10(7) CFU g-1 wet weight of feces. Primary isolates of each indicator organism were tested against a panel of 10 antibiotics. Greater than 95% of E. coli isolates were resistant to penicillin G, ampicillin, cephalothin, and sulfathiazole; no E. coli were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Enterococcal isolates showed highest resistance to cephalothin, streptomycin, and sulfathiazole; no enterococci were resistant to chloramphenicol. The tetracyclines, streptomycin, and gentamycin provided the greatest discrimination among E. coli isolates; chlortetracycline, cephalothin, and gentamycin resistance patterns provided the greatest discrimination between enterococcal strains. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) profiles were calculated: fall (E. coli=0.499; enterococci=0.234), winter (E. coli=0.487; enterococci=0.389), and spring (E. coli=0.489; enterococci=0.348). E. faecalis and E. faecium, which are recognized human nosocomial pathogens, were cultured from winter (44 and 56%, respectively) and spring (13 and 31%, respectively) fecal samples.

Prevalence and Antibiotic-Resistance Characteristics of Enterococcus Spp. Isolated From Free-Living and Captive Raptors in Central Illinois

“…Although determining specific resistance genes for antimicrobial agents was outside the scope of this study, the phenotypic resistance characteristics seen in this study closely parallel previously reported genetic characteristics of Enterococcus. Our isolates also possess the same resistance patterns seen previously from veterinary and environmental sources (Ellerbroek et al, 2004;Middleton and Ambrose, 2005;Macovei and Zurek, 2006). No significant correlation between resistance patterns and the antimicrobial exposure group could be determined in this study, except for chloramphenicol.…”

“…It has been shown that free-living wildlife, especially waterfowl, may serve as reservoirs, and potentially sentinels, of zoonotic pathogens, most notably Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli (White and Forrester, 1979;Fallacara et al, 2001;Smith et al, 2002;Dobbin et al, 2005;Middleton and Ambrose, 2005). Free-living raptors also are important sentinels for potential pathogens found in their environment (Winsor et al, 1981;Steele et al, 2005).…”

Microbiota cloacal aeróbia de cracídeos cativos no Rio Grande do Sul e sua susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos

“…Com relação a esse último antimicrobiano, estudos anteriores já observaram que bactérias da microbiota fecal de aves silvestres apresentavam um índice menor de resistência a ciprofloxacina (Livermore et al 2001, Middleton & Ambrose 2005.…”

“…Vários estudos com cepas de bactérias isoladas de aves silvestres têm demonstrado altos índices de resistência a antimicrobianos, mesmo em amostras de animais que provavelmente nunca foram tratados com antibióticos (Livermore et al 2001, Middleton & Ambrose 2005, DeBoer et al 2007, Dolejska et al 2007, Gibbs et al 2007. No Brasil, estudo realizado em Minas Gerais, reportou elevado índice de resistência bacteriana em amostras oriundas de pássaros selvagens de vida livre (Nascimento et al 2003).…”

Potential Role of Migratory Quail in Spreading of Some Zoonotic Pathogens in Egypt

“…are considered the most important bacterial pathogen isolated from migratory quails (Mohamed et al, 2001;Effat and Moursi, 2005). Moreover, the development of antimicrobial resistant strains of zoonotic bacteria constitutes a public health risk, increasing risk of treatment failures (Middleton and Ambrose, 2005).…”