Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Pigeons from Public Parks in Costa Rica. (24th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blanco‐Peña, K.; Esperón, F.; Torres‐Mejía, A. M.; de la Torre, A.; de la Cruz, E.; Jiménez‐Soto, M.
• Is Part Of: Zoonoses and public health. Volume 64:Number 7(2017)
• Page Start: e23
• Page End: e30
• Publication Date: 2017-02-24
• Subjects: Antimicrobial resistances -- antimicrobial resistance genes -- Costa Rica -- Columba livia -- urban parks -- ecosystem health; Zoonoses -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 636.0896959
• DOI: 10.1111/zph.12340
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-1959

Abstract

Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is known to be an emerging problem, but the extent of the issue remains incomplete. The aim of this study was to determine the presence or absence of nine resistance genes ( bla TEM, cat I, mec A, qnr S, sul I, sul II, tet (A), tet (Q), van A) in the faeces of 141 pigeons from four urban parks in Alajuela, Guadalupe, Tres Ríos and San José in Costa Rica. The genes were identified by real‐time PCR directly from enema samples. About 30% of the samples were positive for genes cat I and sul I; between 13% and 17% were positive for qnr S, sul II, tet (A) and tet (Q); and 4% were positive for bla TEM . The mec A and van A genes were not detected. The average of antimicrobial resistance genes detected per pigeon was 2. Eight different patterns of resistance were identified, without differences in the sampling areas, being the most common pattern 2 ( sul II positive samples). During rainy season, the genes more frequently found were sul I and tet (A). In conclusion, the urban inhabiting pigeons tested are currently carrying antimicrobial resistance genes, potentially acting as reservoirs of resistant bacteria and vectors to humans. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study carried out on direct detection of resistance genes in the digestive metagenomes of pigeons.