Birds in Europe: Their conservation status

https://repositorio.unesp.br/bitstream/handle/11449/42589/WOS000287054500042.pdf?sequence=1

Degradation of the antibiotic amoxicillin by photo-Fenton process - Chemical and toxicological assessment

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.

/pdf/significance-and-roles-of-proteus-spp-bacteria-in-natural-2sehfd11ij.pdf

Significance and Roles of Proteus spp. Bacteria in Natural Environments

Summary
The spread of antimicrobial resistance is of major concern for human health and leads to growing economic costs. While it is increasingly hypothesized that wildlife could play an important role in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria dynamics, empirical data remain scarce.
The present work builds on a systematic review of the available data in order to highlight the main information we have and to suggest research pathways that should be followed if we aim to fill the gaps in our current knowledge.
To achieve this goal, we address four questions: (i) Which resistant bacteria are the most frequently observed in wildlife? (ii) How are resistant bacteria exchanged between wildlife and the other hosts involved? (iii) In which habitats are those resistant bacteria found? (iv) Are resistances associated with certain ecological traits of the host?
Synthesis and applications. We highlight the strong link existing between the impact of human activities on natural habitats and the carriage of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria by wildlife. Furthermore, we underline that omnivorous, anthropophilic and carnivorous species are at high risk of being carriers and potentially spreaders of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Identifying among those groups key sentinel species may be of particular interest to implement ecosystem contamination surveillance. Finally, we discuss possible exchange routes for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between humans and wildlife. Considering that water is of major importance in those exchanges, a critical way to control antimicrobial resistance spread may be to limit aquatic environment contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antibiotics.

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1365-2664.12596

Antimicrobial resistance in wildlife

Recent studies of natural environments have revealed vast genetic reservoirs of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. Soil bacteria and human pathogens share AR genes, and AR genes have been discovered in a variety of habitats. However, there is little knowledge about the presence and diversity of AR genes in marine environments and which organisms host AR genes. To address this, we identified the diversity of genes conferring resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, and sulfadimethoxine in diverse marine environments using functional metagenomics (the cloning and screening of random DNA fragments). Marine environments were host to a diversity of AR-conferring genes. Antibiotic-resistant clones were found at all sites, with 28% of the genes identified as known AR genes (encoding beta-lactamases, bicyclomycin resistance pumps, etc.). However, the majority of AR genes were not previously classified as such but had products similar to proteins such as transport pumps, oxidoreductases, and hydrolases. Furthermore, 44% of the genes conferring antibiotic resistance were found in abundant marine taxa (e.g., Pelagibacter, Prochlorococcus, and Vibrio). Therefore, we uncovered a previously unknown diversity of genes that conferred an AR phenotype among marine environments, which makes the ocean a global reservoir of both clinically relevant and potentially novel AR genes.

/pdf/the-ocean-as-a-global-reservoir-of-antibiotic-resistance-rind4gk1j1.pdf

The Ocean as a Global Reservoir of Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Aujeszky's disease (AD), Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and Swine influenza (SI) are among the principal agents of respiratory diseases of pigs. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to SHV-1, PRRSV and SIV in pigs reared in Sicily. An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the glicoprotein gE of pseudorabies virus, for PRRSV and for SIV was performed. Antibodies against gE of SHV-1 were detected in 171 serum samples (14.6%), whereas PRRSV antibodies occurred at a higher frequency than SHV-1 with 289 (31.1%) samples being positive. The seroprevalence of SIV was found to be 33.3%. This study demonstrated the circulation of ADV, PRRSV and SIV viruses in Sicilian swine population. This is the first report on this topics in Sicily.

Serological survey on Aujeszky's disease, swine influenza and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infections in Italian pigs.

The cloacal microbial flora of 49 loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, was evaluated from two cloacal swabs for each individual. The predominant isolates in descending order of frequency were as follows: Escherichia coli (78 isolates), Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris (24 isolates), Citrobacter freundii (15 isolates), Providencia rettgeri (9 isolates) and Enterobacter sakazakii (6 isolates). This study provides data on cloacal microflora of loggerhead sea turtles impacted by hook and line fishery interactions, that may be useful for comparison with healthy sea turtles and with sea turtles affected by other conditions or exposed to other environmental conditions.

Enterobacteriaceae Isolates in Cloacal Swabs from Live-stranded Internally-hooked Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Caretta caretta, in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Analysis of Eurasian Stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) microbial flora reveals the presence of multi-drug resistant pathogens in agro-pastoral areas of Sicily (Italy).

Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella Isolated from Tegus (Tupinambis spp.)

Introduction It was estimated that in 2009 between 5.9 and 9.8 million live reptiles were imported into the EU (RSPCA 2011), reflecting a similar previously trend in the USA (Franke & Telecky 2001). These animals are known to shed Salmonella frequently (Bauwens et al 2006; Hidalgo-Vila et al 2007; Pedersen et al 2009). Reptiles have been increasing in popularity as pets, resulting in an increase in the number of reptile-associated salmonellosis in USA (CDC 2008) and European countries (Corrente et al 2006; Bertrand et al 2008; Eurosurveillance 2008). Salmonella can be transmitted from reptiles to humans both by direct contact or indirect contact with surfaces contaminated with reptile feces. Even if less frequent than foodborne related salmonellosis, outbreaks of reptile-associated salmonellosis in humans have been widely reported, in particular affecting infants, children and immunocompromised subjects (Nowinski & Albert 2000; Nagano et al 2006; Hames et al 2008; Böhme et al 2009; Harris et al 2009; Van Meervenne et al 2009), but also healthy persons (Harris et al 2010). The reptiles imported by the EU Member States were reported to derive from various sources, as captive-bred or taken from the wild (Auliya 2003). Many species of Chelonia, among which Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 so-called commonly spur-thighed tortoise, are now frequently kept as companion animals (CAWC 2003). Testudo graeca is an endangered species with a broad distribution range. It can be found in northern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia (van der Kuyl et al 2005). It is nowadays regularly offered as captive bred, although specimens from the Abstract. The prevalence of Salmonella carriage and distribution of serotypes in spur-thighed tortoises, Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 illegally introduced in Italy was studied to assess the risk of disease exposure for humans once these specimens were traded as pets. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were also analyzed to estimate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains. One hundred forty-six cloacal swabs of spur-thighed tortoises were tested by standard bacteriological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests on Salmonella strains isolated were also performed. Ninety-one Salmonella spp. strains were isolated in 74 of 146 turtles examined and a total of 20 different serotypes were found. Out of the 91 isolates, 67 were grouped in the Salmonella enterica subspecies I. Salmonella isolates were susceptible to most of the antibiotics tested. Resistance was most commonly observed against tetracycline (57.1%) followed by ampicillin (33.0%), streptomycin (13.2%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (11.0%). Our findings confirm that wild-caught spur-thighed tortoises can carry different serotypes of Salmonella. Accordingly, strict preventive sanitation measures should be adopted when handling reptiles.

Maria Foti

Papers

Serological survey on Aujeszky's disease, swine influenza and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infections in Italian pigs.

Enterobacteriaceae Isolates in Cloacal Swabs from Live-stranded Internally-hooked Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Caretta caretta, in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Analysis of Eurasian Stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) microbial flora reveals the presence of multi-drug resistant pathogens in agro-pastoral areas of Sicily (Italy).

Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella Isolated from Tegus (Tupinambis spp.)

Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Salmonella spp. isolates from spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca illegally introduced in Italy.