Francesco Lo Piccolo

Bio: Francesco Lo Piccolo is an academic researcher from University of Messina. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antibiotic resistance & Multiple drug resistance. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 3 publications receiving 27 citations.

Antibiotic resistance assessment in bacteria isolated in migratory Passeriformes transiting through the Metaponto territory (Basilicata, Italy)

Abstract: Wild birds are considered to be reservoirs of human enteric pathogens and vectors of antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the environment. During their annual migration, they play a potential role in the epidemiology of human associated zoonoses. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of microorganisms found in the cloaca of common European passerines. One hundred and twenty-one cloacal swabs were collected during a monitoring program of migratory birds in the Forest Reserve for Protection “Metaponto” (Basilicata, Italy). All samples were cultured using standard bacteriological methods and antibiotic susceptibility testing (agar disk diffusion test) of isolated strains was performed. The bacteriological analysis produced 122 strains belonging to 18 different species. The most commonly isolated species were Enterobacter cloacae and Providencia rettgeri (21 strains, 17.2%). Potentially pathogenic species including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas spp. have also been identified. Isolates showed significant frequencies of antimicrobial resistance. The highest frequency of resistance was observed against amoxicillin (n = 79, 64.8%); ampicillin (n = 77, 63.1%); rifampicin (n = 75, 61.5%); amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (n = 66, 54.1%). Thirty-one strains (25.4%) showed resistance to imipenem and 8 (6.6%) to meropenem. Migratory birds play an important role in the ecology, circulation and dissemination of potentially pathogenic antimicrobial resistant organisms. They can therefore be considered sentinel species and environmental health indicators. Our results suggest that the integration of epidemiological surveillance networks during ringing campaigns of wild species can be an effective tool to study this phenomenon.

Detection of multidrug resistance and extended-spectrum/plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from diseased cats in Italy.

Abstract: ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from cats affected by diseases commonly encountered in practice, and to characterise...

Significance and Roles of Proteus spp. Bacteria in Natural Environments

Abstract: Proteus spp. bacteria were first described in 1885 by Gustav Hauser, who had revealed their feature of intensive swarming growth. Currently, the genus is divided into Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus penneri, Proteus hauseri, and three unnamed genomospecies 4, 5, and 6 and consists of 80 O-antigenic serogroups. The bacteria are known to be human opportunistic pathogens, isolated from urine, wounds, and other clinical sources. It is postulated that intestines are a reservoir of these proteolytic organisms. Many wild and domestic animals may be hosts of Proteus spp. bacteria, which are commonly known to play a role of parasites or commensals. However, interesting examples of their symbiotic relationships with higher organisms have also been described. Proteus spp. bacteria present in soil or water habitats are often regarded as indicators of fecal pollution, posing a threat of poisoning when the contaminated water or seafood is consumed. The health risk may also be connected with drug-resistant strains sourcing from intestines. Positive aspects of the bacteria presence in water and soil are connected with exceptional features displayed by autochthonic Proteus spp. strains detected in these environments. These rods acquire various metabolic abilities allowing their adaptation to different environmental conditions, such as high concentrations of heavy metals or toxic substances, which may be exploited as sources of energy and nutrition by the bacteria. The Proteus spp. abilities to tolerate or utilize polluting compounds as well as promote plant growth provide a possibility of employing these microorganisms in bioremediation and environmental protection.

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Virulence Factors in Escherichia coli from Sympatric Wildlife of the Apuan Alps Regional Park (Tuscany, Italy).

Abstract: Today a growing number of studies are focusing on antibiotic resistance in wildlife. This is due to the potential role of wild animals as reservoirs and spreaders of pathogenic and resistant bacteria. This study focused on isolating and identifying Escherichia coli from the feces of wild animals living in the Apuan Alps Regional Park (Tuscany, Italy) and evaluating some of their antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity traits. Eighty-five fecal samples from different species were studied. Seventy-one E. coli were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis, subjected to antibiograms and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenicity factors. The highest resistance rates were found against cephalothin (39.4%) and ampicillin (33.8%), followed by amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (15.5%), streptomycin (12.7%), and tetracycline (5.6%). Regarding resistance genes, 39.4% of the isolates were negative for all tested genes. The remaining isolates were positive for blaCMY-2, sul2, strA-strB and aadA1, tet(B), and tet(A), encoding resistance to beta-lactams, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, streptomycin, and tetracycline, respectively. With regard to virulence factors, 63.4% of the isolates were negative for all genes; 21.1% carried astA alone, which is associated with different pathotypes, 9.9% carried both escV and eaeA (aEPEC); single isolates (1.4%) harbored escV (aEPEC), escV associated with astA and eaeA (aEPEC), astA with stx2 and hlyA (EHEC) or astA and stx1, stx2, and hlyA (EHEC). These results show that wildlife from nonanthropized environments can be a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and suggest the need for a deeper knowledge on their origin and diffusion mechanisms through different ecological niches.

Pathotypes and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia Coli Isolated from Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Tuscany.

Abstract: Wild boar are among the most widespread wild mammals in Europe. Although this species can act as a reservoir for different pathogens, data about its role as a carrier of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli are still scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant and pathogenic Escherichia coli in wild boar in the Tuscany region of Italy. During the hunting season of 2018-2019, E. coli was isolated from 175 of 200 animals and subjected to antimicrobial resistance tests and PCR for detection of resistance and virulence factor genes. The highest resistance rates were against cephalothin (94.3%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (87.4%), ampicillin (68.6%), and tetracycline (44.6%). The most detected resistance genes were blaCMY-2 (54.3%), sul1 (38.9%), sul2 (30.9%), and tetG (24.6%). Concerning genes encoding virulence factors, 55 of 175 isolates (31.4%) were negative for all tested genes. The most detected genes were hlyA (47.4%), astA (29.1%), stx2 (24.6%), eaeA (17.1%), and stx1 (11.4%). E. coli was classified as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) (21.7%), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) (6.3%), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (5.1%), and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) (3.4%). Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and typical enteropathogenic E. coli (tEPEC) were not detected. Our results show that wild boars could carry pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli, representing a possible reservoir of domestic animal and human pathogens.

High colonization rate of a novel carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella lineage among migratory birds at Qinghai Lake, China

Abstract: OBJECTIVES The emergence of carbapenemase-positive Enterobacteriaceae poses a serious threat to public health worldwide. Here we conducted a molecular surveillance study on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) colonization among migratory birds at Qinghai Lake in China. METHODS A total of 420 samples from migratory birds and their surrounding environment were collected at three sites along the Qinghai Lake bird island. Carbapenem-non-susceptible isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS. Carbapenemase producers were determined by Carba NP testing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, transfer ability and PFGE were also performed, and 46 isolates from different pulsotypes were analysed by WGS. RESULTS Three hundred and fifty isolates were carbapenemase producers based on Carba NP testing, while 233 Klebsiella spp. and 2 Escherichia coli isolates were NDM-5-carriers. PFGE was performed and showed that the isolates were grouped into five pulsotypes; among these, type A was predominant (86.7%, n = 202) and belonged to a novel Klebsiella lineage, ST1697. WGS analysis indicated that ST1697 strains may be a hybrid of the recombination of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae genomes. CONCLUSIONS This high frequency of carbapenemase producers in migratory birds is unexpected. These results provide new insight into the spread of antibiotic resistance, and highlight that continued vigilance for MDR carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in migratory birds is urgently needed.