High-Throughput Detection and Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistant Enterococcus sp. Isolates from GI Tracts of European Starlings Visiting Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

Abstract

<jats:p>Antimicrobial resistant enteric bacteria can easily contaminate the environment and other vehicles through the deposition of human and animal feces. In turn, humans can be exposed to these antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria through contaminated food products and/or contaminated drinking water. As wildlife are firmly established as reservoirs of AMR bacteria and serve as potential vectors in the constant spread of AMR, limiting contact between wildlife and livestock and effective tracking of AMR bacteria can help minimize AMR dissemination to humans through contaminated food and water. Enterococcus spp., which are known opportunistic pathogens, constantly found in gastrointestinal tracts of mammalian and avian species, swiftly evolve and cultivate AMR genotypes and phenotypes, which they easily distribute to other bacteria, including several major bacterial pathogens. In this study, we evaluated the use of high throughput detection and characterization of enterococci from wildlife [European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)] by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) following culture-based isolation. MALDI-TOF MS successfully identified 658 Enterococcus spp. isolates out of 718 presumptive isolates collected from gastrointestinal tracts of European starlings, which were captured near livestock operations in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas; antimicrobial susceptibility testing was then performed using 13 clinically significant antibiotics.</jats:p>

European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) as Vectors and Reservoirs of Pathogens Affecting Humans and Domestic Livestock

“…Some species are opportunistic pathogens of both humans and some livestock. Wild European Starlings frequenting concentrated animal feeding operations harbor many strains; a study [ 50 ] of approximately 1400 starlings taken from feedlots across the central United States yielded 658 Enterococcus sp. strains, including (in decreasing order of abundance) E. faecium, E. hirae, E. faecalis, E. casseliflavus, E. gallinarium, E. durans, E. mundtii and E. villorum .…”

“…The evidence for the starling’s importance in the spread and dynamics of bacterial pathogens is perhaps strongest for E. coli and C. jejuni . While strong evidence links European Starlings to Salmonella , their overall importance in the transmission of this pathogen to humans and livestock may be limited [ 46 , 50 ].…”

Reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance in the context of One Health

“…, and Vibrio spp . ) in migratory birds 40 , 41 . They were recently discovered as a source of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in Bangladesh [42] .…”

Dietary Exposure Assessment of Veterinary Antibiotics in Pork Meat on Children and Adolescents in Cyprus

“…Exposure in low antibiotics concentrations may cause several adverse effects to human health, including toxicity, hypersensitivity, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal disturbances, and multidrug resistance and may also increase the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes [ 6 ]. Antimicrobial resistance is a complicated phenomenon involving many interconnected factors between humans, animals, and environmental sources [ 7 ]. Multidrug-resistant bacteria are currently considered as an emerging global disease and a serious health concern [ 8 ].…”