90 / 2024-10-26 01:00:37

Environmental Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through the Study of Resistance Patterns in Commensal Coliforms Isolated from Wild Animals. Who is the Best Bioindicator?

The continuing rapid development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global public health concern, mostly driven by extensive antibiotic use across healthcare, agriculture, and livestock [1]. This widespread usage - from medical prescriptions to infection prevention and control - amplifies the selection and spread of resistant bacterial strains. To effectively tackle AMR, a One Health approach is essential, recognizing the interconnection between humans, animals, plants, and their shared environment [2]. In recent years, increasing attention is growing towards the environmental spread of AMR, as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) continuously circulate in various environmental niches. Moreover, the role of wildlife, typically not directly exposed to antibiotics, is emerging as valuable bioindicators or sentinels for AMR in different ecosystems [3]. This research specifically aims to investigate the potential role of wildlife species that can act as effective bioindicators of environmental AMR, and to explore whether specific species can reflect the prevalence and spread of AMR in agricultural and livestock areas. Specifically, stool, rectal, or cloacal swabs will be collected from wild mammals, micromammals, and birds; additionally, environmental sampling (soil, water) will also be included, to compare wildlife sampling data with surrounding environmental conditions, enhancing the understanding of the interplay between animals and their habitats. Commensal coliform bacteria will be isolated and identified from the samples and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) towards key antibiotic classes relevant to both medical and veterinary fields. Subsequently, genotypic analysis, such as Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and metagenomics, will be employed to characterize resistance profiles of the isolates and to investigate diversity and distribution of specific antimicrobial resistance gene (ARGs) in the context of human-wildlife-environment interactions. Finally, statistical analysis will be performed on collected data in relation to species characteristics, their interactions with the environment and epidemiological context. In conclusion, our research will determine which wildlife species could serve as key bioindicators for monitoring AMR in various ecosystems, specifically in agricultural and livestock areas, providing valuable insights into AMR spread and how it circulates in the environment, highlighting the role of wildlife in tracking this phenomenon. Our findings will suggest how to develop an AMR environmental surveillance system, to monitor the use of antibiotics in agro-zootechnical contexts, to promote awareness of the need to reduce antibiotic use on farms and to prevent the spread of AMR.

[1] Magouras, I., Carmo, L. P., Stärk, K. D., & Schüpbach-Regula, G. (2017). Antimicrobial usage and-resistance in livestock: where should we focus?. Frontiers in veterinary science, 4, 148.
[2] Arnold, K. E., Laing, G., McMahon, B. J., Fanning, S., Stekel, D. J., Pahl, O., ... & McIntyre, K. M. (2024). The need for One Health systems-thinking approaches to understand multiscale dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The Lancet Planetary Health, 8(2), e124-e133.
[3] Furness, L. E., Campbell, A., Zhang, L., Gaze, W. H., & McDonald, R. A. (2017). Wild small mammals as sentinels for the environmental transmission of antimicrobial resistance. Environmental research, 154, 28-34.