Microbiological and genomic surveillance of bacterial pathogens in manatees at rehabilitation centers in Brazil

• Grant number: 25/03354-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Nilton Erbet Lincopan Huenuman
• Grantee: Ana Clara Gales Landi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The emergence and spread of pathogens resistant to multiple antimicrobials is a global public health issue, directly impacting aquatic animals, especially those with coastal habits, such as manatees. National studies reporting the frequency of colonization and/or infection of manatees by multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens are still scarce. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the presence of critical priority enterobacteria, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), in the two species of manatees native to Brazilian fauna, located in rehabilitation centers in different states of Brazil. Samples and/or bacterial isolates sent by partner institutions will be screened using pre-established protocols for selecting critical priority bacteria. The bacterial isolates will be identified by the VITEK method and later confirmed by the MALDI-TOF technique. Resistance profiles will be evaluated through qualitative antibiograms (disk diffusion) and/or quantitative methods (broth microdilution). Genomic data (resistome, mobilome, virulome, MLST) will be obtained after whole-genome sequencing of the bacteria through bioinformatics analyses. The results will be publicly available on the WildBR platform (http://www.onehealthbr.com). This study will provide new and relevant epidemiological surveillance data for the development of strategies to control the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens at the human-animal-environment interface, as well as contribute to the management, treatment, and conservation of manatees, animals at risk of extinction.