Abstract
The role of wildlife with long-range dispersal such as gulls in the global dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across natural and anthropogenic aquatic environments remains poorly understood. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been detected in resident and migratory gulls worldwide for more than a decade, suggesting gulls as either sentinels of AMR pollution from anthropogenic sources or independent reservoirs that could maintain and disperse AMR across aquatic environments. However, confirming either of these roles remains challenging and incomplete. In this review, we present current knowledge on the geographic regions where AMR has been detected in gulls, the molecular characterization of resistance genes, and the evidence supporting the capacity of gulls to disperse AMR across regions or countries. We identify several limitations of current research to assess the role of gulls in the spread of AMR including most studies not identifying the source of AMR, few studies comparing bacteria isolated in gulls with other wild or domestic species, and almost no study performing longitudinal sampling over a large period of time to assess the maintenance and dispersion of AMR by gulls within and across regions. We suggest future research required to confirm the role of gulls in the global dispersion of AMR including the standardization of sampling protocols, longitudinal sampling using advanced satellite tracking, and whole-genome sequencing typing. Finally, we discuss the public health implications of the spread of AMR by gulls and potential solutions to limit its spread in aquatic environments.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge affecting human, animal, and environmental health (FAO and WHO, 2019; WHO, 2019)
Wild animals, highlighting their potential role in the spread of clinically important bacteria to humans and domestic animals (Wang et al, 2017; Benavides et al, 2018; Dolejska and Literak, 2019). Wildlife such as wild birds, the ones living in proximity to human settings or agriculture fields, can acquire AMR from anthropogenic sources when feeding on landfills and wastewater (Nelson et al, 2008; Wang et al, 2017)
The majority of studies focused on the herring gull (Larus argentatus, 26%), followed by the laughing gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus, 23%) and the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis, 19%) (Figure 3A)
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge affecting human, animal, and environmental health (FAO and WHO, 2019; WHO, 2019). Gulls as Reservoirs of AMR wild animals, highlighting their potential role in the spread of clinically important bacteria to humans and domestic animals (Wang et al, 2017; Benavides et al, 2018; Dolejska and Literak, 2019). Wildlife such as wild birds, the ones living in proximity to human settings or agriculture fields, can acquire AMR from anthropogenic sources when feeding on landfills and wastewater (Nelson et al, 2008; Wang et al, 2017). Gulls have been suggested as potential reservoirs of ARB and ARGs, evidence proving their role as reservoirs has not been provided (Radhouani et al, 2010; Aberkane et al, 2015; Merkeviciene et al, 2018)
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