The improper use of antibiotics by humans may promote the dissemination of resistance in wildlife. The persistence and spread of acquired antibiotic resistance and human-associated bacteria in the environment, while representing a threat to wildlife, can also be exploited as a tool to monitor the extent of human impact, particularly on endangered animal species. Hence, we investigated both the associated enterobacterial species and the presence of acquired resistance traits in the cloacal microbiota of the critically endangered lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima), by comparing two separate populations living in similar climatic conditions but exposed to different anthropic pressures. A combination of techniques, including direct plating, DNA sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing allowed us to characterize the dominant enterobacterial populations, the an- tibiotic resistant strains and their profiles. A higher frequency of Escherichia coli was found in the samples from the more anthropized site, where multi-drug resistant strains were also isolated. These results confirm how human-associated bacteria as well as their antibiotic-resistance determinants may be transferred to wildlife, which, in turn, may act as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance.

Di Lallo, G., D’Andrea, M.m., Sennati, S., Thaller, M.c., Migliore, L., Gentile, G. (2021). Evidence of another anthropic impact on iguana delicatissima from the lesser Antilles: the presence of antibiotic resistant enterobacteria. ANTIBIOTICS, 10(8) [10.3390/antibiotics10080885].

Evidence of another anthropic impact on iguana delicatissima from the lesser Antilles: the presence of antibiotic resistant enterobacteria

Di Lallo, Gustavo;D’Andrea, Marco Maria
;
Thaller, Maria Cristina;Migliore, Luciana;Gentile, Gabriele
2021-01-01

Abstract

The improper use of antibiotics by humans may promote the dissemination of resistance in wildlife. The persistence and spread of acquired antibiotic resistance and human-associated bacteria in the environment, while representing a threat to wildlife, can also be exploited as a tool to monitor the extent of human impact, particularly on endangered animal species. Hence, we investigated both the associated enterobacterial species and the presence of acquired resistance traits in the cloacal microbiota of the critically endangered lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima), by comparing two separate populations living in similar climatic conditions but exposed to different anthropic pressures. A combination of techniques, including direct plating, DNA sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing allowed us to characterize the dominant enterobacterial populations, the an- tibiotic resistant strains and their profiles. A higher frequency of Escherichia coli was found in the samples from the more anthropized site, where multi-drug resistant strains were also isolated. These results confirm how human-associated bacteria as well as their antibiotic-resistance determinants may be transferred to wildlife, which, in turn, may act as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance.
2021
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore BIO/07 - ECOLOGIA
Settore BIO/05 - ZOOLOGIA
Settore BIO/18 - GENETICA
English
Con Impact Factor ISI
critically endangered; IUCN Red List; action plan; Caribbean reptiles; Escherichia coli; squamata
Di Lallo, G., D’Andrea, M.m., Sennati, S., Thaller, M.c., Migliore, L., Gentile, G. (2021). Evidence of another anthropic impact on iguana delicatissima from the lesser Antilles: the presence of antibiotic resistant enterobacteria. ANTIBIOTICS, 10(8) [10.3390/antibiotics10080885].
Di Lallo, G; D’Andrea, Mm; Sennati, S; Thaller, Mc; Migliore, L; Gentile, G
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/277375
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