TY - JOUR
T1 - Into the sea
T2 - antimicrobial resistance determinants in the microbiota of little penguins (Eudyptula minor)
AU - Lundbäck, Ida C.
AU - McDougall, Fiona K.
AU - Dann, Peter
AU - Slip, David J.
AU - Gray, Rachael
AU - Power, Michelle L.
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - Terrestrial and aquatic birds have been proposed as sentinels for the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, but few species have been investigated specifically in the context of AMR in the marine ecosystem. This study contrasts the occurrence of class 1 integrons and associated antimicrobial resistance genes in wild and captive little penguins (Eudyptula minor), an Australian seabird with local population declines. PCR screening of faecal samples (n = 448) revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of class 1 integrons in wild and captive groups, 3.2% and 44.7% respectively, with genes that confer resistance to streptomycin, spectinomycin, trimethoprim and multidrug efflux pumps detected. Class 1 integrons were not detected in two clinically relevant bacterial species, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli, isolated from penguin faeces. The presence of class 1 integrons in the little penguin supports the use of marine birds as sentinels of AMR in marine environments.
AB - Terrestrial and aquatic birds have been proposed as sentinels for the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, but few species have been investigated specifically in the context of AMR in the marine ecosystem. This study contrasts the occurrence of class 1 integrons and associated antimicrobial resistance genes in wild and captive little penguins (Eudyptula minor), an Australian seabird with local population declines. PCR screening of faecal samples (n = 448) revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of class 1 integrons in wild and captive groups, 3.2% and 44.7% respectively, with genes that confer resistance to streptomycin, spectinomycin, trimethoprim and multidrug efflux pumps detected. Class 1 integrons were not detected in two clinically relevant bacterial species, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli, isolated from penguin faeces. The presence of class 1 integrons in the little penguin supports the use of marine birds as sentinels of AMR in marine environments.
KW - Antimicrobial resistance
KW - Sentinel species
KW - Microbial pollution
KW - Escherichia coli
KW - Klebsiella pneumoniae
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098948759&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104697
DO - 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104697
M3 - Article
C2 - 33370595
AN - SCOPUS:85098948759
SN - 1567-1348
VL - 88
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Infection, Genetics and Evolution
JF - Infection, Genetics and Evolution
M1 - 104697
ER -