Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and genotypic relatedness of Salmonella spp. isolates from captive wildlife, their caretakers, feed and water in India

Abstract

Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in captive wild animal species in India is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of different Salmonella serotypes, antimicrobial resistance patterns and genotypic relatedness of recovered isolates. A total of 370 samples including faecal (n = 314), feed and water (n = 26) and caretakers stool swabs (n = 30) were collected from 40 different wild animal species in captivity, their caretakers, feed and water in four zoological gardens and wildlife enclosures in India. Salmonellae were isolated using conventional culture methods and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility with the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Salmonella isolates were serotyped and genotyping was performed using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. Animal faecal samples were also subjected to direct PCR assay. Salmonella was detected in 10 of 314 (3.1%) faecal samples by isolation and 18 of 314 (5.7%) samples by direct PCR assay; one of 26 (3.8%) feed and water samples and five of 30 (16.7%) caretakers stool swabs by isolation. Salmonella was more commonly isolated in faecal samples from golden pheasants (25%; 2/8) and leopard (10%; 2/20). Salmonella enterica serotypes of known public health significance including S. Typhimurium (37.5%; 6/14), S. Kentucky (28.5%; 4/14) and S. Enteritidis (14.3%; 2/14) were identified. While the majority of the Salmonella isolates were pan-susceptible to the commonly used antibiotics. Seven (43.7%; 7/16) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic and one isolate each among them exhibited penta and tetra multidrug-resistant types. Three S. Kentucky serotype were identified in a same golden pheasants cage, two from the birds and one from the feed. This serotype was also isolated from its caretaker. Similarly, one isolate each of S. Typhimurium were recovered from ostrich and its caretaker. These isolates were found to be clonally related suggesting that wildlife may serve as reservoir for infections to humans and vice versa. These results emphasise the transmission of Salmonella among hosts via environmental contamination of feces to workers, visitors and other wildlife.

Prevalence Estimation, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Serotyping of Salmonella enterica Recovered from New World Non-Human Primates (Platyrrhini), Feed, and Environmental Surfaces from Wildlife Centers in Costa Rica

“…In our study, 78.0% (32/41) of isolates were pansusceptible, while the remaining 22.2% (9/41) were resistant to at least one antibiotic; no multiresistance profiles were found. This matches with previous wildlife studies where the frequency of antibiotic use is low compared to livestock and healthcare settings [13]. Although wildlife is unlikely to be treated with antibiotic therapy, when they enter one of these rescue sites, it is mostly because they have a health condition, which may require the use of antibiotics [52].…”

Revisiting the Biological Behavior of Salmonella enterica in Hydric Resources: A Meta-Analysis Study Addressing the Critical Role of Environmental Water on Food Safety and Public Health

“…S. Kentucky is involved in approximately 100 cases of human salmonellosis yearly in the United States ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016 ). Although it is not one of the leading serovars causing human salmonellosis, there is increasing concern with the emergence of multidrug resistance particularly associated with this serovar ( Milton et al, 2018 ; Al-Gallas et al, 2021a , b ). On the other hand, S. Rubislaw has been mainly detected in environmental samples ( Maurer et al, 2015 ), and various free-living animals ( Potter et al, 2011 ; Rush et al, 2020 ; Hernandez et al, 2021 ).…”

Characteristics and Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae From Red Kangaroo, China

“…The isolates from wild animals show a similar pattern of drug resistance to E. coli from human clinical sources in their study areas ( Jobbins and Alexander, 2015 ). Other studies have indicated that drug-resistant Salmonella isolates identified from zoo environments, including those from animals and their keepers, have been confirmed to be clone-related ( Farias et al, 2015 ; Milton et al, 2018 ). Therefore, wild animals may be important hosts and storage hosts for the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, and human activities significantly affect the microbial community of captive wild animals in zoo environments, which are not necessarily monitored for such risks.…”