Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Fecal Escherichia coli in Wildlife, Urban Wildlife, and Livestock in the Eastern Region of Sri Lanka, and Differences Between Carnivores, Omnivores, and Herbivores

Bamunusinghage, NPD; Neelawala, RG; Magedara, HP; Ekanayaka, NW; Kalupahana, RS; Silva-Fletcher, A; Kottawatta, SA

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health concern. We identified AMR in fecal Escherichia coli of wildlife (WI.), urban wildlife (UVVL), and livestock in the eastern region in Sri Lanka and compared the prevalence of AMR bacteria from carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Fecal samples were collected from 165 animals: WI. (n=47), UVVI, (n=54), and livestock (n-64). Esherichia colt was cultured from 129 samples, with isolation rates of 76% from WL (36/47), 70% from UWL (45/54), and 75% from livestock (48/64). Testing E. coil isolates against 12 antimicrobials using the disk diffusion method revealed that the proportions of E. coli isolates resistant to at least one antimicrobial were WL 52.7%, UWL 20%, and livestock 52%. Multidrug-resistant E. colt isolates were detected in WL, UWL, and livestock. Overall, the prevalence of E. coli isolates with AMR was significandy lower in UWL compared with WL and livestock. The number of isolates showed AMR was significantly higher in E. coil from carnivores than in isolates from omnivores and in herbivores. We conclude that AMR E. coli in Sri Lanka is widespread in WL, UWL, and livestock. The higher incidence of AMR bacteria in carnivores compared with herbivores and omnivores suggest that the mechanisms of spread of AMR may vary among wild animals, which requires further investigation.

Citation

Bamunusinghage, N., Neelawala, R., Magedara, H., Ekanayaka, N., Kalupahana, R., Silva-Fletcher, A., & Kottawatta, S. (2022). Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Fecal Escherichia coli in Wildlife, Urban Wildlife, and Livestock in the Eastern Region of Sri Lanka, and Differences Between Carnivores, Omnivores, and Herbivores. Bio One Complete, 58(2), 380-383. https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00048

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 2, 2021
• Publication Date: Apr 21, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 19, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2022
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 380-383
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00048
• Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; carnivore; herbivore livestock; omnivore; urban wildlife; wildlife; GULLS