Valutatore di tesi di Dottorato in Scienze Veterinarie XXXVII Ciclo - Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria - Università di Napoli Federico II: 'L’OASI DEI VARICONI: COME UN HOT-SPOT PER LA BIODIVERSITÀ RAPPRESENTI UN PERFETTO SITO DI SORVEGLIANZA EPIDEMIOLOGICA PER L’ANTIMICROBICO RESISTENZA'

Free-living wild animals might act as reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, representing a potential risk to human and animal health. In particular, birds can be vectors of multiresistant bacteria and genes of antimicrobial resistance, having a big role in the spread of these bacteria and associated genes. The aim of this study was to find new and easy sampling methods for wild birds captured during the bird ringing at the ringing station "Variconi" (CE), so as to have new data and to study the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Fecal samples were collected using a non-invasive method carried out and published by the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production of University of Naples Federico II. Our results showed the presence of several pathogenic and zoonotic bacteria including Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia spp and Escherichia marmotae. The most frequently encountered antimicrobial resistances included Imipenem, Amoxicillina clavulanato, Penicillins, Cefpodoxime. Most of the resistance obtained is from classes of antimicrobials of highest priority in human medicine, and this finding could be a major concern that emerged from our study. This study suggests the potential role of wild birds as bioindicators for monitoring AMR contamination in the environment. Due to the convergence between habitats, contacts among wildlife, other animals and humans is now more common and this could increase the possibilities of interchange of these microorganisms and genes between different ecosystems. Here anthropogenic impact and acquisition of resistant bacteria through contact with human or animal waste is of crucial importance.