High prevalence of bla_CTX‐M‐15 type extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases in Gambian hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus): A threatened species with substantial human interaction

Abstract

One hundred fecal samples from hooded vultures in the Gambia (Banjul area) were investigated for the presence of bacteria with extended‐spectrum cephalosporin‐ (ESBL/AmpC), carbapenemases, and colistin resistance. No Enterobacteriales carrying carbapenemases or resistance against colistin were detected. Fifty‐four ESBL‐producing Escherichia coli and five ESBL‐producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were identified in 52 of the samples, of which 52 E. coli and 4 K. pneumoniae yielded passed sequencing results. Fifty of the E. coli had ESBL phenotype and genotype harboring bla CTX‐M genes, of which 88.5% ( n = 46) were the bla CTX‐M‐15 gene, commonly found on the African continent. Furthermore, the genetic context around bla CTX‐M‐15 was similar between isolates, being colocalized with IS Kpn19 . In contrast, cgMLST analysis of the E. coli harboring ESBL genes revealed a genetic distribution over a large fraction of the currently known existing E. coli populations in the Gambia. Hooded vultures in the Gambia thus have a high ESBL E. coli ‐prevalence (>50%) with low diversity regarding key resistance genes. Furthermore, given the urban presence and frequent interactions between hooded vultures and humans, data from this study implies hooded vultures as potential vectors contributing to the further dissemination of antibiotic‐resistance genes.

Occurrence of ESBL- and AmpC-Producing E. coli in French Griffon Vultures Feeding on Extensive Livestock Carcasses

“…The proportions of ESC-resistant and MDR isolates in wild birds also largely varied among studies. In Spain, ESBL-producing isolates were found in 1.1% to 30.6% of cases, while this proportion rose to 54% in Gambia [14]. In this study, the proportion of ESBLproducing isolates (5/51, 9.8%) was clearly lower than in neighboring Spain; contrary to Spain, where vultures feed mostly on intensive pig farms, vultures in the French Alps mostly feed on sheep from extensive farming, with much fewer veterinarian treatments than pigs or cows.…”

“…Consequently, contamination of vultures by multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria most likely reflects local contamination of their environment and possibly a subsequent spread of these bacteria between individuals of the same colony, notably when feeding in groups. ESBL-producing E. coli have been reported from Hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) in Gambia (54/100, 54%), from Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) in the Canary Islands (5/22, 22.7%), or from cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus, formerly known as black vultures) in Mongolia (3/30, 10.0%) [14][15][16]. MDR and ESBL producers were also reported in European griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), which are distributed from Spain to India.…”