A study at the wildlife-livestock interface unveils the potential of feral swine as a reservoir for extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-07, Vol.473, p.134694-134694, Article 134694
• Main Authors: Liu, Ting, Lee, Shinyoung, Kim, Miju, Fan, Peixin, Boughton, Raoul K., Boucher, Christina, Jeong, Kwangcheol C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Wild - microbiology; Antimicrobial resistance; beta-Lactamases - genetics; beta-Lactamases - metabolism; Cattle; Disease Reservoirs - microbiology; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - enzymology; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology; Escherichia coli Infections - veterinary; Extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing pathogen; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Livestock - microbiology; Swine; Wildlife
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134694

Wildlife is known to serve as carriers and sources of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Due to their unrestricted movements and behaviors, they can spread antimicrobial resistant bacteria among livestock, humans, and the environment, thereby accelerating the dissemination of AMR. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is one of major concerns threatening human and animal health, yet transmission mechanisms at the wildlife-livestock interface are not well understood. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of ESBL-producing bacteria spreading across various hosts, including cattle, feral swine, and coyotes in the same habitat range, as well as from environmental samples over a two-year period. We report a notable prevalence and clonal dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli in feral swine and coyotes, suggesting their persistence and adaptation within wildlife hosts. In addition, in silico studies showed that horizontal gene transfer, mediated by conjugative plasmids and insertion sequences elements, may play a key role in spreading the ESBL genes among these bacteria. Furthermore, the shared gut resistome of cattle and feral swine suggests the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes at the wildlife-livestock interface. Taken together, our results suggest that feral swine may serve as a reservoir of ESBL-producing E. coli. [Display omitted] •This study evaluated wildlife as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance.•This study showed a high prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in wildlife.•This study unveiled the transmission mechanisms of antimicrobial resistant genes at the wildlife-livestock interface.•This study highlights the potential hazard of feral swine as a reservoir of ESBL-producing E. coli.•This study suggests the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate wildlife associated AMR transmission.