Abstract
Wild boar is an animal the population of which constantly increases in Europe. This animal plays an important role as a reservoir for several pathogens, including three of the most important zoonoses: salmonellosis, yersiniosis and listeriosis. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant and virulence factor genes of Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes isolated from wild boar in Tuscany (Central Italy). During two consequent hunting seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020), rectal swabs, spleens and livers were collected from 287 hunted wild boar to isolate strains. Each isolate was tested to investigate its antimicrobial resistance and to detect virulence factor genes by PCR. Eighteen Salmonella strains (6.27%) were isolated. Of these, 66.7% were resistant to streptomycin, 13.4% to cephalothin, 6.67% to imipenem and one isolate (6.67%) was resistant simultaneously to five antimicrobials. Moreover, the most detected genes were sopE (73.4%), pipB (66.7%), sodCI (53.3%), spvR and spvC (46.7%). In total, 54 (17.8%) Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated; of them, 26 (48.1%), 9 (16.7%), 17 (31.5%), 1 (1.85%) and 1 (1.85%) belonged to biotypes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. All strains (100%) demonstrated resistance to cephalothin and 70.4% to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 55.6% to ampicillin, and 37.0% to cefoxitin. Additionally, the most detected genes were ystA (25.9%), inv (24.1%), ail (22.2%), ystB (18.5%) and virF (14.8%). Finally, only one Listeria monocytogenes isolate (0.35%) was obtained, belonging to serogroup IVb, serovar 4b, and it was found to be resistant to cefoxitin, cefotaxime and nalidixic acid. The results highlighted the role of wild boar as a carrier for pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogens, representing a possible reservoir for domestic animals and human pathogens.
Highlights
Following European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports, salmonellosis, yersinosis and listeriosis are three of the most important zoonoses spreading in Europe, with around 91,622, 6823 and 2480 human cases per year, respectively [3]
The statistical significance threshold was set at a p value ≤ 0.05. The results of this investigation highlight that a great variability is present among Salmonella and Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes circulating in free-ranging wild boar
Some strains were more virulent than others, especially the isolates belonging to Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae serotype 50:r:1,5,7, serotype Rubislaw and subspecies houtenae serotype 1,40:z4,z23, and Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes 3 and 5
Summary
The “One Health” idea started at the beginning of the 2000s. This approach is based on the concept that human and animal health are strictly linked and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they coexist [1]. This concept is envisaged and implemented by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as a collaborative global approach to understanding the risks for humans and animals, including domestic and wild animals, and ecosystem health as a unique entity [2]. Following European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports, salmonellosis, yersinosis and listeriosis are three of the most important zoonoses spreading in Europe, with around 91,622, 6823 and 2480 human cases per year, respectively [3]
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