Bubulcus ibis, Ciconia ciconia and Erinaceus europaeus from a Wildlife Recovery Center in Portugal as Potential Carriers of Resistant Escherichia coli

Résumé fourni par la source

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an increasing threat to public health, with wildlife recognized as reservoirs and vectors of resistant bacteria. However, the role of wild species in the ecology of AMR remains insufficiently understood, highlighting the need to investigate resistant bacteria in these animals. This study focused on detecting and characterizing Escherichia coli obtained from 43 fecal samples of white storks (Ciconia ciconia), cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis), and European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Portugal. Resistance profiles to twelve antibiotics and six virulence factors were characterized phenotypically. ESBL production was also tested. A total of 79 E. coli isolates were obtained from 39 out of 43 samples, and 75 were selected for further characterization. All isolates tested negative for ESBL production. Approximately 64% (n = 48/75) of isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 5.3% (n = 4/75) were multidrug-resistant. Most frequent resistances were to ampicillin (36%, n = 27/75), tetracycline (12%, n = 9/75), and chloramphenicol (8%), while all isolates were susceptible to meropenem, aztreonam, and third-generation cephalosporins. Most isolates (81.3%, n = 61/75) lacked virulence factors. These findings suggest that wildlife may act as a reservoir of resistant strains, emphasizing importance of AMR monitoring and the One Health approach.

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