Abstract
Wild environments and wildlife can be reservoirs of pathogens and antibiotic resistance. Various studies have reported the presence of zoonotic bacteria, resistant strains, and genetic elements that determine antibiotic resistance in wild animals, especially near urban centers or agricultural and zootechnical activities. The purpose of this study was the analysis, by cultural and molecular methods, of bacteria isolated from wild animals in Sicily, Italy, regarding their susceptibility profile to antibiotics and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes. Bacteriological analyses were conducted on 368 wild animals, leading to the isolation of 222 bacterial strains identified by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing. The most isolated species was Escherichia coli, followed by Clostridium perfringens and Citrobacter freundii. Antibiograms and the determination of resistance genes showed a reduced spread of bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance among wild animals in Sicily. However, since several wild animals are becoming increasingly close to residential areas, it is important to monitor their health status and to perform microbiological analyses following a One Health approach.
Highlights
IntroductionLocated in the middle of the Mediterranean area, Sicily has a strategically important position for bird migration because it represents a natural bridge between Europe and Africa
This study reports the data regarding the presence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated in 2017–2019 from wildlife in Sicily
In contrast to data related to companion animals, which showed a higher prevalence of resistant bacteria [33], the results of this study indicate that, in wildlife, antimicrobial resistance may be quite unusual and that the major responsibility for high resistance is related to the human factor
Summary
Located in the middle of the Mediterranean area, Sicily has a strategically important position for bird migration because it represents a natural bridge between Europe and Africa. The Sicilian territory is characterized by a considerable extension of rural areas and natural parks and by the presence of urbanized and industrial areas. These regional parks, such as Parco delle Madonie and Parco dei Nebrodi, as well as several smaller regional reserves, host many wildlife mammal species, including wild boar (Sus scrofa), wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), fox (Vulpes vulpes), and porcupine (Hystrix cristata), and many common birds together with endangered species, such as the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the smaller Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata), and the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)
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