Into the sea: Antimicrobial resistance determinants in the microbiota of little penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Ida C Lundbäck; Fiona K McDougall; Peter Dann; David J Slip; Rachael Gray; Michelle L Power

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104697

Into the sea: Antimicrobial resistance determinants in the microbiota of little penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Infect Genet Evol. 2021 Mar:88:104697. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104697. Epub 2020 Dec 25.

Authors

Ida C Lundbäck¹, Fiona K McDougall¹, Peter Dann², David J Slip³, Rachael Gray⁴, Michelle L Power⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
² Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Taronga Conservation Society, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: michelle.power@mq.edu.au.

PMID: 33370595
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104697

Abstract

Terrestrial and aquatic birds have been proposed as sentinels for the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, but few species have been investigated specifically in the context of AMR in the marine ecosystem. This study contrasts the occurrence of class 1 integrons and associated antimicrobial resistance genes in wild and captive little penguins (Eudyptula minor), an Australian seabird with local population declines. PCR screening of faecal samples (n = 448) revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of class 1 integrons in wild and captive groups, 3.2% and 44.7% respectively, with genes that confer resistance to streptomycin, spectinomycin, trimethoprim and multidrug efflux pumps detected. Class 1 integrons were not detected in two clinically relevant bacterial species, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli, isolated from penguin faeces. The presence of class 1 integrons in the little penguin supports the use of marine birds as sentinels of AMR in marine environments.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Microbial pollution; Sentinel species.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Australia / epidemiology
Bacterial Typing Techniques / methods
DNA, Bacterial
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
Escherichia coli / drug effects
Escherichia coli / genetics
Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
Feces / microbiology
Integrons*
Klebsiella Infections / microbiology
Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects
Klebsiella pneumoniae / genetics
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Microbiota*
Spheniscidae / microbiology*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
DNA, Bacterial