Companion psittacine birds as reservoir of gentamicin and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp.

Author(s)

Bruna G. Cabral ^[1] ; Yamê M. Davies ^[2] ; Márcia Cristina Menão ^[3] ; Andre B.S. Saidenberg ^[4] ; Vasco Túlio M. Gomes ^[5] ; Luisa Z. Moreno ^[6] ; Maria Inês Z. Sato ^[7] ; Andrea M. Moreno ^[8] ; Terezinha Knöbl ^[9]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

^[7] Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo

^[8] Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo

^[9] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira; v. 40, n. 2, p. 129-133, 2020-04-13.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Enterococcus are recognized worldwide as significant nosocomial agents that have been continuously envolving to adapt to different niches and acquire resistance to several antibiotic classes. Vancomycin and gentamicin-resistant strains of E. faecalis and E. faecium have been associated with nosocomial human infections. Some epidemiological studies suggest the participation of pets as reservoirs of vancomycin and gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus strains. However, the role of companion birds as reservoirs of these strains has been poorly studied. In this study, 126 psittacine birds were evaluated and 26.9% carried Enterococcus spp., including the species E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. hirae, E. phoeniculicola, E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus. The antibiotic resistance profile showed four high-level gentamicin-resistance (HLGR) strains. In addition, two strains presented intermediate levels of vancomycin resistance. Resistant strains were isolated from fecal and oropharynx samples of sick and clinically healthy birds, suggesting that psittacine birds may act as reservoirs of HLGR Enterococcus spp. However, sick birds appear to be more implicated in the enterococci transmission than healthy birds. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/12641-9 - Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from broilers raised in conventional and organic poultry farms.
• Grantee: Terezinha Knöbl
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants