Isolation of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from free-ranging wild animals

Abstract

Increasing interactions between humans, domestic animals and wildlife may result in inter-species transmission of infectious agents. To evaluate the presence of pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella spp. and to test the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates, rectal swabs from 36 different free-ranging wild mammals were taken from two distinct natural sites in Brazil: Cantareira State Park (CSP, state of São Paulo) and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro Region (SIRNR, state of Amazonas). The swabs were randomly collected and processed for bacterial isolation, identification, characterization and antimicrobial resistance. Eighteen E. coli strains from CSP and 20 from SIRNR were recovered from 14 and 22 individuals, respectively. Strains from animals captured in CSP, the site with the greatest anthropization, exhibited a higher range and percentage of virulence genes, including an eae+/bfpA+ strain. Antimicrobial resistance was verified in strains originating from both sites; however, in strains from SIRNR, aminopenicillins were almost the exclusive antimicrobial class to which strains exhibited resistance, whereas in CSP there were strains resistant to cephalosporins, sulfonamide, aminoglycoside, tetracycline and fluoroquinolone, in addition to strains exhibiting multidrug resistance. Two strains of Salmonella enterica that are known to be associated with reptiles, serotypes Belem and 60:r:e,n,z15, were recovered only from Amazonian animals and showed susceptibility to all classes of antimicrobials that were tested. Although the potential impact of these pathogens on wildlife remains unknown, bacteria isolated from free-ranging wild animals may provide relevant information about environmental health and should therefore be more deeply studied.

Free-Ranging Frigates (Fregata magnificens) of the Southeast Coast of Brazil Harbor Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Resistant to Antimicrobials

“…Escherichia coli are Gram-negative bacilli that colonize the intestines of mammals and avian species shortly after birth as commensal organisms; this property enables E . coli to be largely used as an indicator of ambiental contamination [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]. However, some E .…”

“…coli strains have been reported in the wildlife microbiota and in environments that have undergone human impact. Consequently, the presence of these bacteria may predict anthropic influence [ 8 , 11 ]. Diarrheagenic strains known as STEC (shiga toxin-producing E .…”

Genomic diversity ofEscherichia coliisolates from non-human primates in the Gambia

“…The exchange of bacteria between humans and human-habituated animals, particularly non-human primates, is of interest in light of the fragmentation of natural habitats globally (18–28). We have seen that wild non-human primates in the Gambia are frequently exposed to humans through tourism, deforestation and urbanisation.…”

Isolation, identification and antimicrobial activities of Lactic Acid Bacteria from fruits of wild plants in Tambrauw Forest, West Papua, Indonesia

“…model). E. coli and S. aureus are enteropathogenic bacteria and able to infect wild animals (de Godoy et al 2016;Iovine et al 2015). Mycobacterium spp.…”