Wild birds of Chile as bioindicators of carbapenemase- or extended spectrum β -lactamase-producing Enterobacterales

• Main Author: Castillo, Danny Andrés Fuentes
• Other Authors: Dias, José Luiz Catão
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da USP 2021
• Subjects: Fauna silvestre; BLEE; Resistência antimicrobiana; CTX-M; NDM-5; Antimicrobial resistance; ESBL; Wildlife; Chiloé; Patagonia; Antarc*; Antarctica; Numenius phaeopus
• Online Access: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/10/10133/tde-26082021-113658/; https://doi.org/10.11606/T.10.2021.tde-26082021-113658

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are a major threat to human and animal health. Among these organisms, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- or carbapenemase- producing Enterobacterales commonly cause infections both in human and veterinary medicine. Actually, are considered global critical-priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO) with a urgence in research and development of effective drugs and treatments. Recent studies reports that wild animals have been colonized by ESBL- or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, nevertheless, critical gaps on the knowledge about the real role of wildlife in the evolution and spread of these “superbugs”. In this epidemiological surveillance study, using microbiologic and whole-genome sequencing tools, we analyzed wild bird samples admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centers (WRC) and free- living birds from several eco-regions of Chile, including the Andes Highlands, Atacama Desert, Chiloé Archipelago and Patagonia, besides Antarctica. Our results reveal that wild owls and Andean condors were colonized by international clones of ESBL CTX- M-types-carrying Escherichia coli. An owl (Bubo magellanicus) was also colonized by a Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis belonged to the sequence type (ST) 32 carrying a blaCTX-65M gene. On other hand, in free-living birds, was registered a migratory bird (Numenius phaeopus) colonized by an Serratia fonticola bearing the ESBL chromosomal gene FONA-type; whole-genome sequencing and “ in silico” studies determined that belonged to a novel variant, designed as FONA-7. In samples of five wild Andean condors that fed on landfills at the Andes Highlands, we founded E. coli producers of carbapenemase NDM-5 and BLEE (SHV-12 e CTX-M-177) genes. Finally, in a Chiloé Archipelago’s Island, South Chile, CTX-M-1 and CTX-M-55- producing E. coli were isolated from three migratory gulls (Leucophaeus pipixcan) and two resident gulls (Chroicocephalus maculipennis). ESBL- or carbapenemase- producing Enterobacterales cause nosocomial ...