Public risk from antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli colonized in urban wildlife

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Escherichia coli is an especially dangerous health threat to humans when it develops multi- drug resistance. Decreased sensitivity to quinolone and beta-lactam antibiotics has been documented with antibiotic use in health care and agriculture. Migrating birds interact with wastewater treatment plants colonized with drug resistant Escherichia coli potentially transfer to other wildlife. Anchorage is home to 1500 moose and migrating geese providing a potential risk for Escherichia coli colonization. Because fecal contamination is abundant in Anchorage’s greenspaces, we evaluated the presence of Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistance in urban moose. Methods/Case Report Between 2018-2020, moose fecal samples were ground collected during the spring thaw within Anchorage Alaska, placed in transport media and cultured to MacConkey agar. Lactose fermenting colonies were further identified as Escherichia coli by biochemical testing and sub-cultured to sheep blood agar for antimicrobial evaluation. Using the Kirby Bauer method, antimicrobial sensitivity for cefpodoxime, ampicillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, gentamycin and ciprofloxacin were performed and interpreted using Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines Results (if a Case Study enter NA) A total of 150 samples were analyzed with 39% positive for Escherichia coli: fourteen in 2018, seventeen in 2019, and twenty-eight in 2020. In 2018, resistance was significant in ampicillin (43%), limited in piperacillin/tazobactam and cefpodoxime (14%). In 2019 found a 40% overall increase of antimicrobial resistance and by 2020 Escherichia coli isolates were resistant in all antibiotics tested: cefpodoxime (100%), ampicillin (96%), piperacillin/tazobactam (43%), gentamycin (35%), and ciprofloxacin (32%). Conclusion Measuring resistant patterns of Escherichia coli in wildlife is essential to understand the risk of colonization. Transmission of infectious agents can occur due to environmental exposure and Anchorage has expanded greenspaces resulting in increased human interaction with urban wildlife. In 2018, we found antimicrobial resistance only to ampicillin but subsequent years discovered decrease sensitivity and by 2020 Escherichia coli isolates resistant to one or more antibiotics including beta-lactams, quinolones, and aminoglycosides. The risk of zoonosis of multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli, especially in our housing insecure, has a significant impact for patient outcome.