Title : Phylogenetic groups, pathotypes and antimicrobial resistance of escherichia coli isolated from western lowland gorilla faeces (gorilla gorilla gorilla) of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park (MDNP)
Abstract:
Background: Terrestrial mammals in protected areas have been identified as a potential source of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Studies on antimicrobial resistance in gorillas have already been conducted. Thus, this study aimed to describe the phylogroups, pathotypes and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from western lowland gorilla’s faeces living in MDNP.
Materials and Methods: Ninety-six faecal samples were collected from western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) during daily monitoring in the MDNP. Sixty-four E. coli isolates were obtained and screened for phylogenetic and pathotype group genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after DNA extraction. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar.
Results: Sixty-four (64%) isolates of E. coli were obtained from samples. A high level of resistance to the beta-lactam family, a moderate rate for fluoroquinolone and a low rate for aminoglycoside was obtained. All E. coli isolates were positive in phylogroup PCR with a predominance of A (69% ± 11.36%), followed by B2 (20% ± 19.89%) and B1 (10% ± 8.90%) and low prevalence for D (1% ± 3.04%). In addition, twenty E. coli isolates (31%) were positive for pathotype PCR, such as EPEC (85% ± 10.82%) and EPEC/EHEC (15% ± 5.18%) that were obtained in this study. The majority of these MDR E. coli (DECs) belonged to phylogenetic group A, followed by MDR E. coli (DECs) belonging to group B2.
Conclusion: This study is the first description of MDR E. coli (DECs) assigned to phylogroup A in western lowland gorillas from the MDNP in Gabon. Thus, wild gorillas in MDNP could be considered as asymptomatic carriers of potential pathogenic MDR E. coli (DECs) that may present a potential risk to human health.
Keywords: E. coli; antimicrobial resistance; phylogenetic group; pathotype; gorilla; MDNP; Gabon
Audience Take Away:
- 1- In Gabon, wildlife such as western lowland gorillas are believed to be reservoirs of pathogenic bacteria that are multi-resistant to antibiotics used in human therapy.
- 2- As reservoirs of such pathogens, these animals represent a risk to human public health.
- 3- Transmission mechanisms of these multi-resistant pathogenic bacteria from humans to gorillas and vice versa are therefore likely to exist.
- The results obtained in our study provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that the transmission of pathogens from humans to wildlife is one of the causes of the decline of certain species living in entropized or semi-entropized ecosystems.
- The results of our study can serve as a basis for new research or the development of new research hypotheses.
