Genotypical characterisation of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) of the island of Gran Canaria

Abstract

Wildlife is a key point for the dissemination of pathogens, as they cannot be strictly controlled. Specifically, invasive alien species represent not only an economic and environmental loss, but also a risk to public health as they can introduce new pathogens or even reactivate them, highlighting the possible transmission of antimicrobial resistance and all that this entails. For this reason, multiple studies are carried out to estimate the possible impact that this may have, as in the case of the present study, the purpose of which is to estimate the distribution of Escherichia coli, analyse the distribution of its pathotypes and β-lactamase-producing strains, isolated from cecal samples of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus). The samples were cultured on enrichment medium and then transferred to increasingly specific culture media (MacConkey and then E. coli chromogenic agar plates), followed by genetic analysis by PCR. Of the 26 samples analysed, 13 were positive for E. coli, obtaining the following distribution of genes in relation to the positives: rfbO25 (1/13) and wzxO16 (0/13), linked to the ST131 clonal group, which is characterised by multidrug resistance; blaCTX-M (5/13), linked to the production of ESBL; vt1 (0/13) and vt2 (8/13), producers of verotoxins linked to the STEC pathotype; eae (0/13) and eae-β1 (0/13), E. coli attaching and effacing gene, present in the most virulent serotypes and their most predominant subgroup, linked to the STEC/EPEC pathotype; bfp (2/13), bundle-forming pili, adhesion-associated virulence factor, linked to the EPEC pathotype; kpsM II (0/13), capsule-associated virulence factor, associated with the ExPEC strain; and finally the vat gene (0/13), vacuolating toxin producer, associated with the UPEC pathotype. Although the study population is limited, the results obtained show the presence of genes involved in the transmission of antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated factors, thus emphasising the importance of the impact of these species on both the environment and public health.