Evil and allies : Opportunistic gulls as both spreaders and sentinels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in human-transformed landscapes
Martín-Vélez, Víctor (Institut de Ciències del Mar)
Montalvo Porro, Tomas (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Giralt, David (Grup de Biologia de la Conservació (GBiC). Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC))
Ramírez, Francisco (Institut de Ciències del Mar)
Giménez, Joan (Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC). Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga (COMA))
Morral-Puigmal, Clara (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Planell, Raquel (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Sabate, Sara (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Bota, Gerard (Grup de Biologia de la Conservació (GBiC). Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC))
Navarro, Joan (Institut de Ciències del Mar)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Human-transformed residuals, especially those derived from human waste (dumps), farmland, and livestock are involved in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the environment. Wildlife can act as vectors of ARB dispersal through different environments, but also as sentinels to detect the early spread and determine ARB sources. The development of integrated monitoring programmes focused on wildlife would help to anticipate the risks of ARB to humans and livestock. We used the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) as a model species to investigate and monitor the spatial patterns of ARB dispersal across an extensive farmland region located in northeastern Spain (Lleida). By integrating GPS tracking data and ARB clinical testing for 26 individuals within a network analysis framework, we modelled the risk of spatial pathogen spread through faeces during the bacteria-transmission latency period (16 days after sample collection). Additionally, we created a connectivity network to determine the main sources of ARB in the area, focusing on three main habitats of special risk for infection: dumps, livestock facilities, and irrigation ponds. Seven individuals were infected by Escherichia coli, with one also co-infected with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. Potential pathogen dispersal distances ranged from 1. 13 km to 23. 13 km from the breeding colony. Our network analyses revealed 54 main nodes (i. e. high-risk habitats recurrently visited by tracked gulls) and 1182 links among them. Our findings revealed a high degree of connectivity between the breeding area, located in a shallow lake, and nearby dumps, highlighting them as significant contributors to ARB dispersal. Synthesis and applications: The integration of GPS data, pathogen testing and network analyses can shed further light on pathogen dynamics by creating spatial risk maps and identifying ARB sources. In combination with complementary molecular epidemiology techniques within a One Health framework, our approach can emerge as an important tool for monitoring ARB dynamics within highly human-transformed ecosystems. This may empower managers for the development of targeted ARB monitoring programmes and effective mitigation strategies, ultimately improving both animal and public health.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Agriculture ; AMR ; ARB ; Connectivity ; One heath ; Risk maps ; Wildlife ; Yellow-legged gull
Published in:	The journal of applied ecology, Vol. 61 Núm. 11 (november 2024) , p. 2809-2821, ISSN 1365-2664

DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14787

13 p, 4.6 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles