Abstract
Pigeons are widespread bird species in urban regions (Columba livia forma urbana) and may carry pathogens with zoonotic potential. In recent years, more and more data indicate that these zoonotic pathogens are multidrug resistant. Our results confirmed that global trend. Three different multidrug-resistant pathogens were isolated from an oral cavity of a racing pigeon with lesions typical for pigeon pox virus infection. Staphylococcus aureus was recognized as methicillin resistant, thus resistant to all beta-lactams. Additionally, it was also resistant to many other classes of antibiotics, namely: aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, phenicols, lincosamides, and macrolides. Escherichia coli showed resistance to all antimicrobials tested, and it was classified as intermediate to amikacin. Moreover, Candida albicans resistant to clotrimazole, natamycin, flucytosine, and amphotericin and intermediate to ketoconazole, nystatin, and econazole was also isolated. This raises the question how pigeons acquire such highly resistant strains. Therefore, more data are needed concerning the resistance to antibiotics in strains from domestic and wild pigeons in Poland. Until the problem is fully understood, it will be challenging to implement adequate planning of any control measures and check their effectiveness.
Highlights
IntroductionS. aureus is widely spread among humans and numerous animal species
In pigeons, most staphylococcal infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus; a few studies have indicated that after S. aureus, the most prevalent coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) in pigeons are Staphylococcus delphini and Staphylococcus intermedius [1, 2], which inhabit the choanal slit of healthy birds.Case Report: Pigeons Carrying MDR PathogensS. aureus is widely spread among humans and numerous animal species
S. aureus, non-hemolytic E. coli, and C. albicans were isolated from oral cavity of racing pigeon
Summary
S. aureus is widely spread among humans and numerous animal species. It means that it can be transmitted between animals and humans. Since pigeons share common environment with humans, they may be the source of staphylococcal infection but may pose a reservoir of bacteria-carrying resistance and virulence factor genes. This might be of a great importance in the context of public health. Extensive and often inappropriate use of antimicrobials causes a strong selective pressure that leads to the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. The “One World—One Health” concept created in 2004 becomes an especially important issue nowadays [4, 5]
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