Spread of airborne antibiotic resistance from animal farms to the environment: Dispersal pattern and exposure risk

Abstract We evaluated the antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from cloacal swabs of wild birds collected with mist nets in the Jequitinhonha river valley, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 191 isolates from 19 individuals of 16 species was obtained and tested for resistance to five antibiotics. At Salto da Divisa 97% of the isolates exhibited a resistant phenotype, and resistance to more than one antibiotic was frequent (71%). At Jequitinhonha 36% of isolates were resistant, but 94% showed resistance to only one antibiotic. Of the five antibiotics tested, resistance to ampicillin was most frequent (in both areas), whereas kanamycin resistance was found in only one isolate. The data here obtained and other data reported in the literature show that the general premise that antibiotic-resistant bacteria arise primarily in hospitals or animal farms should be reconsidered. Bactérias Gram-Negativas Resistentes a Antibióticos em Aves da Mata Atlântica Brasileira Resumo. Avaliamos a resistência a antibióticos de bactérias isoladas por swab cloacal em aves selvagens capturadas com redes de neblina em duas regiões do Vale do Rio Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram obtidos 191 isolados de 19 indivíduos de 16 espécies e foi testada a resistência desses isolados a cinco antibióticos. Em Salto da Divisa, 97% dos isolados exibiram fenótipo resistente e foi freqüente (71%) a resistência a mais de um antibiótico. Em Jequitinhonha, 36% dos isolados exibiram fenótipo resistente, dos quais 94% apresentaram resistência a apenas um antibiótico. Em ambas as áreas, a maioria dos isolados apresentou resistência à ampicilina, enquanto somente um único isolado foi resistente à canamicina. Os dados aqui obtidos e outros relatados na literatura mostram que a premissa geral de que bactérias resistentes a antibióticos surgem principalmente em hospitais ou fazendas de animais deve ser reconsiderada.

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Insects Represent a Link between Food Animal Farms and the Urban Environment for Antibiotic Resistance Traits

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00600-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 80 (12) ◽

pp. 3562-3567 ◽

Cited By ~ 106

Author(s):

Ludek Zurek ◽

Anuradha Ghosh

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Urban Environment ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

Insect Management ◽

Food Animal ◽

Animal Farms ◽

Animal Industry ◽

Food Animals ◽

Resistance Traits

ABSTRACTAntibiotic-resistant bacterial infections result in higher patient mortality rates, prolonged hospitalizations, and increased health care costs. Extensive use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the animal industry represents great pressure for evolution and selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on farms. Despite growing evidence showing that antibiotic use and bacterial resistance in food animals correlate with resistance in human pathogens, the proof for direct transmission of antibiotic resistance is difficult to provide. In this review, we make a case that insects commonly associated with food animals likely represent a direct and important link between animal farms and urban communities for antibiotic resistance traits. Houseflies and cockroaches have been shown to carry multidrug-resistant clonal lineages of bacteria identical to those found in animal manure. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated proliferation of bacteria and horizontal transfer of resistance genes in the insect digestive tract as well as transmission of resistant bacteria by insects to new substrates. We propose that insect management should be an integral part of pre- and postharvest food safety strategies to minimize spread of zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic resistance traits from animal farms. Furthermore, the insect link between the agricultural and urban environment presents an additional argument for adopting prudent use of antibiotics in the food animal industry.

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