Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: DENNY PARENTE DE SÁ BARRETO MAIA LEITE

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : DENNY PARENTE DE SÁ BARRETO MAIA LEITE
DATE: 05/09/2025
TIME: 14:30
LOCAL: https://meet.google.com/wtu-ejss-xia
TITLE:

Ecology of antimicrobial resistance in wildlife: clinical implications and connections between one health and conservation medicine

KEY WORDS:

Bacterial multidrug resistance. Bacterial genetics. Bacterial biofilm. Epidemiological surveillance. Conservation medicine.

PAGES: 181
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUMMARY:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wildlife and natural environments represents a growing threat to global health and biodiversity conservation, requiring surveillance under a One Health approach. This study compiled data from different Brazilian wildlife hosts, including Amazon river dolphins (Inia araguaiaensis), primates (Sapajus libidinosus), various wild mammals, reptiles, sharks, and birds, characterizing phenotypic and genotypic resistance profiles as well as biofilm-forming ability in Staphylococcus spp. and Mammaliicoccus sciuri. Skin, oropharyngeal, rectal, and cloacal samples were collected (n = 355) and processed in selective media. Bacterial species were identified using MALDI-TOF MS, antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disk diffusion, resistance genes were screened by PCR, and biofilm production was evaluated by crystal violet assay. In river dolphins (n = 19 isolates), the predominant species were S. aureus (4/19; 21.1%), S. warneri (4/19; 21.1%), and S. epidermidis (4/19; 21.1%), with high resistance to penicillin (18/19; 94.7%), erythromycin (4/19; 21.1%), and tetracycline (4/19; 21.1%); genes blaZ (8/19; 44.4%) and mecA (2/19; 10.5%) were detected; 15/19 (78.9%) formed biofilms. In primates (n = 19), M. sciuri (7/19; 36.8%) and S. simiae (6/19; 31.6%) predominated, with resistance to penicillin (12/19; 63.2%) and tetracycline (11/19; 57.9%); resistance genes included tetM (7/19; 36.8%), tet(38) (6/19; 31.6%), and blaZ (5/19; 26.3%); 18/19 (94.7%) produced biofilms, mostly weak. In wild mammals (n = 63), the most frequent species were M. sciuri (29/63; 46.0%), S. aureus (5/63; 7.9%), and S. simulans (5/63; 7.9%), with resistance to cefoxitin (18/63; 28.6%), erythromycin (17/63; 27.0%), and tetracycline (16/63; 25.4%); mecA (4/63; 6.3%) and msrA (4/63; 6.3%) were detected; 33/63 (52.4%) produced biofilms. In reptiles (n = 87), M. sciuri (79/87; 90.8%) predominated, followed by S. xylosus (4/87; 4.6%); the most frequent resistances included oxacillin (38/79; 48.1%), erythromycin (16/79; 20.3%), and clindamycin (14/79; 17.7%); 12/87 (13.8%) were multidrug-resistant. Complementary data (n = 136 isolates) sent for further analysis in Portugal showed that in sharks, S. aureus (26/69; 37.7%) and S. sciuri (17/69; 24.6%) predominated, with resistance to penicillin (7/8; 87.5%) and erythromycin (5/8; 62.5%); in dolphins, S. aureus (6/18; 33.3%) and S. epidermidis (3/18; 16.7%) were frequent, with resistance to erythromycin (9/18; 50.0%) and penicillin (8/18; 44.4%); in birds (n = 49), S. warneri (6/49; 12.2%) and S. epidermidis (2/49; 4.1%) were the most common, with high resistance to tetracycline (31/71; 43.7%), gentamicin (28/71; 39.4%), and ciprofloxacin (28/71; 39.4%). Overall, 223 isolates were analyzed, with a predominance of β-lactam resistance, detection of clinically relevant genes (blaZ, mecA, tetM, msrA, norA), and widespread, though mostly weak, biofilm formation. These findings demonstrate that wild animals, whether free-ranging or under rehabilitation, may act as reservoirs and sentinels of AMR, with direct implications for veterinary clinical practice, as resistance patterns observed in wildlife isolates may compromise conventional therapeutic schemes, underscoring the need for prudent empirical antimicrobial use in wildlife medicine and reinforcing the integration of veterinary medicine, public health, and conservation strategies.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - RINALDO APARECIDO MOTA
Interna - JAQUELINE BIANQUE DE OLIVEIRA
Interno - JOSE WILTON PINHEIRO JUNIOR