Wild birds as carriers of antimicrobial-resistant and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae

open6noopenDotto, G.; Menandro, M.L.; Mondin, A.; Martini, M.; Tonellato, F.R.; Pasotto, D.Dotto, Giorgia; Menandro, MARIA LUISA; Mondin, Alessandra; Martini, Marco; Tonellato, F. R.; Pasotto, Daniel

Multilocus Sequence Typing of Commensal and EnteropathogenicEscherichia Colifrom Domestic and Wild Lagomorphs in Italy

The aim of the study was to determine the multilocus sequence types of Escherichia coli from diseased farm rabbits and apparently healthy wild lagomorphs, and the genetic relatedness among them. Fifty-five enteropathogenic E. coli from reared rabbits and 32 from wild rabbits and hares were characterised by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) according to the Michigan State University EcMLST scheme. Isolates were differentiated into 37 sequence types (STs), which were grouped into 8 clonal complexes (CCs). The most common ST was ST140 (CC31), followed by ST238 and ST119 (CC17). MLST analysis revealed 22 novel STs. Phylogenetic analyses showed a heterogeneous distribution of STs into 3 clusters of genetically related strains. The genetic relationship among STs of different origin and the detection of new, as well as previously described STs as human pathogens, indicate a widespread distribution and adaptability of particular lineages to different hosts. These findings highlight the need for further research to improve the knowledge about E. coli populations colonising the gut of lagomorphs and their zoonotic potential

Evaluation of pet animals involved in assisted interventions (AAI) as potential carriers of bacteria resistant to antimicrobials: Preliminary data

open8noopenDotto, G.; Pasotto, D.; Poser, H.; Menandro, M.L.; Berlanda, M.; Falomo, M.E.; Mondin, A.; Martini, M.Dotto, Giorgia; Pasotto, Daniela; Poser, Helen; Menandro, MARIA LUISA; Berlanda, Michele; Falomo, MARIA ELENA; Mondin, Alessandra; Martini, Marc

Surveillance of Zoonotic Parasites in Animals Involved in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs)

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are based on the establishment of a therapeutic relationship between animals and beneficiaries that is certain to provide positive effects, while currently, it reads as if AAIs aim at exposing stakeholders to potential risk of infection. The surveillance of zoonotic pathogens is necessary for guaranteeing common health. This study investigated the presence of potentially zoonotic parasites, including dermatophytes, in animals involved in AAIs. Between 2015 and 2017, 190 animals (equids, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, and goats) were investigated. Anamnestic and management data were recorded. Individual faecal samples were analysed using a copromicroscopic procedure. Fur and skin were examined for ectoparasites during clinical examinations, and samples for mycological investigation were collected by brushing. Parasites were described in 60 (31.6%) investigated animals. Thirteen out of the 60 (21.7%) animals harboured potentially zoonotic parasites, mainly recovered in dogs (Ancylostomatidae, Eucoleus aerophilus, Toxocara canis, and Giardia duodenalis) and a cat (G. duodenalis). Nannizzia gypsea and Paraphyton mirabile, potential agents of cutaneous mycosis, were isolated in a dog and a horse, respectively. No ectoparasites were found. AAIs might represent a source of infections either directly or via environmental contamination. Thus, active surveillance is necessary and animal screenings should be planned and scheduled according to the risk of exposure

class 1 and class 2 integrons in avian pathogenic escherichia coli from poultry in italy

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L'antibiotico-resistenza in ceppi di E. coli isolati da specie aviari e cunicole commerciali e selvatiche

Antimicrobial-resistance is a public health problem world-wide and it is largely attributed to horizontal exchange of transferable genetic ele-ments such as plasmids carrying integrons (Sunde and Norstrom, 2006). The aim of this study was to define the antimicrobial-resistance phenotypes and to characterize class 1 and class 2 integrons in E. coli isolated both from commercial and wild birds and lagomorphs between 2006 and 2012 in Italy. The strains isolated form lagomorphs were also genotyped and screened for Plasmid-Mediated Quinolones Resistance (PMQR) genes and plasmids. Strains were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility by agar disk diffusion method. Class 1 and class 2 integrons were detected by real-time PCR and gene cassettes content identified by DNA sequencing. PMQR genes were screened by PCR and DNA sequencing. Clonal relatedness of the isolates from lagomorphs was assessed by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Plasmids were characterized by PCR-Based Replicon Typing (PBRT). Class 1 integrons were detected in multi-drug resistant E. coli both from commercial and wild birds and lagomorphs while class 2 integrons were found only in domestic avian species. Different gene cassettes were identified but the most common were combinations of aadA, sat and dfrA, codifying for aminoglycosides and trimethoprim resistance. Of the 172 E. coli isolates from lagomorphs, 12.2% (21/172) carried oqxAB, none other PMQR de-terminants. All but 3 oqxAB positive E. coli strains were recovered from farm rabbits and most of them were associated with the predominant CC17 and carried from 1 to 7 different plasmid types, such as IncF, IncHI1, IncI1, IncR, IncN, IncP, IncX1, IncY, and ColE. This study pro-vides new insights on the prevalence and dissemination of integrons and oqxAB in E. coli from farm and wild animals, suggesting that these species may be reservoir of these genetic determinants in Italy and thus a potential source of multi-drug resistant E. coli for humansIl fenomeno dell’antibiotico-resistenza rappresenta un grave problema per la sanità pubblica e la sua diffusione è attribuita principalmente alla capacità dei batteri di scambiarsi orizzontalmente materiale genetico attraverso plasmidi, spesso associati agli integroni (Sunde and Nor-strom, 2006). Questo studio nasce con l’obiettivo di definire i profili fe-notipici e genotipici di antibiotico-resistenza, in particolare la presenza e la caratterizzazione degli integroni di classe 1 e 2 in E. coli isolati sia da volatili che da lagomorfi domestici e selvatici campionati in Italia tra il 2006 e il 2012. I ceppi isolati da quest’ultima categoria di animali sono stati sottoposti anche a tipizzazione molecolare mediante Multilocus Se-quence Typing (MLST) e del contenuto plasmidico. Mediante PCR-Based Replicon Typing (PBRT). Inoltre sono stati ricercati i geni Plasmid Mediated Quinolone Resistance (PMQR) responsabili di una ridotta sensibilità ai chinoloni e fluorochinoloni. La presenza degli integroni di classe 1 è stata riscontrata in ceppi con profili di multifarmaco-resistenza isolati sia da volatili che da lagomorfi domestici e selvatici. Gli integroni di classe 2 sono stati invece rilevati soltanto negli E. coli di origine aviare. Le cassette geniche riscontrate di frequente sono state varie combinazioni dei geni aadA, sat e dfrA, responsabili della resistenza agli aminoglicosidi e al trimethoprim. Il 12,2% degli isolati da lagomorfi domestici e selvatici è risultato positivo ai geni oqxAB e, ad eccezione di 3, isolati da conigli di allevamento. La maggior parte dei ceppi oqxAB-positivi apparteneva al CC17 e presentava nel proprio corredo da 1 a 7 classi di plasmidi diversi, quali IncF, IncHI1, IncI1, IncR, IncN, IncP, IncX1, IncY, e ColE. Questo studio fornisce un importante contributo sulla diffusione degli integroni e dei geni PMQR in ceppi isolati da animali sia domestici che selvatici e indica l’importante ruolo giocato da queste specie come reservoir di determi-nanti genetici di antibiotico-resistenza e quali possibili fonti di batteri antibiotico-resistenti per l’uom