TY - JOUR
T1 - Carriage of antibiotic resistant bacteria in endangered and declining Australian pinniped pups
AU - Fulham, Mariel
AU - McDougall, Fiona
AU - Power, Michelle
AU - McIntosh, Rebecca R.
AU - Gray, Rachael
N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2022/1/28
Y1 - 2022/1/28
N2 - The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major
concern for wildlife and ecosystem health globally. Genetic determinants
of AMR have become indicators of anthropogenic pollution due to their
greater association with humans and rarer presence in environments less
affected by humans. The objective of this study was to determine the
distribution and frequency of the class 1 integron, a genetic
determinant of AMR, in both the faecal microbiome and in Escherichia coli isolated from neonates of three pinniped species. Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) and long-nosed fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)
pups from eight breeding colonies along the Southern Australian coast
were sampled between 2016–2019. DNA from faecal samples (n = 309) and from E. coli (n = 795) isolated from 884 faecal samples were analysed for class 1 integrons using PCRs targeting the conserved integrase gene (intI) and the gene cassette array. Class 1 integrons were detected in A. p. doriferus and N. cinerea pups sampled at seven of the eight breeding colonies investigated in 4.85% of faecal samples (n = 15) and 4.52% of E. coli isolates (n = 36). Integrons were not detected in any A. forsteri
samples. DNA sequencing of the class 1 integron gene cassette array
identified diverse genes conferring resistance to four antibiotic
classes. The relationship between class 1 integron carriage and the
concentration of five trace elements and heavy metals was also
investigated, finding no significant association. The results of this
study add to the growing evidence of the extent to which antimicrobial
resistant bacteria are polluting the marine environment. As AMR
determinants are frequently associated with bacterial pathogens, their
occurrence suggests that these pinniped species are vulnerable to
potential health risks. The implications for individual and population
health as a consequence of AMR carriage is a critical component of
ongoing health investigations.
AB - The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major
concern for wildlife and ecosystem health globally. Genetic determinants
of AMR have become indicators of anthropogenic pollution due to their
greater association with humans and rarer presence in environments less
affected by humans. The objective of this study was to determine the
distribution and frequency of the class 1 integron, a genetic
determinant of AMR, in both the faecal microbiome and in Escherichia coli isolated from neonates of three pinniped species. Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) and long-nosed fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)
pups from eight breeding colonies along the Southern Australian coast
were sampled between 2016–2019. DNA from faecal samples (n = 309) and from E. coli (n = 795) isolated from 884 faecal samples were analysed for class 1 integrons using PCRs targeting the conserved integrase gene (intI) and the gene cassette array. Class 1 integrons were detected in A. p. doriferus and N. cinerea pups sampled at seven of the eight breeding colonies investigated in 4.85% of faecal samples (n = 15) and 4.52% of E. coli isolates (n = 36). Integrons were not detected in any A. forsteri
samples. DNA sequencing of the class 1 integron gene cassette array
identified diverse genes conferring resistance to four antibiotic
classes. The relationship between class 1 integron carriage and the
concentration of five trace elements and heavy metals was also
investigated, finding no significant association. The results of this
study add to the growing evidence of the extent to which antimicrobial
resistant bacteria are polluting the marine environment. As AMR
determinants are frequently associated with bacterial pathogens, their
occurrence suggests that these pinniped species are vulnerable to
potential health risks. The implications for individual and population
health as a consequence of AMR carriage is a critical component of
ongoing health investigations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123712057&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0258978
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0258978
M3 - Article
C2 - 35089935
AN - SCOPUS:85123712057
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 17
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 1
M1 - e0258978
ER -