Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Companion Birds.

Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern worldwide and it is largely attributed to the horizontal exchange of transferable genetic elements such as plasmids carrying integrons. Several studies have been conducted on livestock showing a correlation between the systemic use of antibiotics and the onset of resistant bacterial strains. In contrast, although companion birds are historically considered as an important reservoir for human health threats, little information on the antimicrobial resistance in these species is available in the literature. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonasaeruginosa isolated from 755 companion birds. Cloacal samples were processed for E. coli and P. aeruginosa isolation and then all isolates were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. P. aeruginosa was isolated in 59/755 (7.8%) samples, whereas E. coli was isolated in 231/755 (30.7%) samples. Most strains showed multidrug resistance. This study highlights that companion birds may act as substantial reservoirs carrying antimicrobial resistance genes which could transfer directly or indirectly to humans and animals, and from a One Health perspective this risk should not be underestimated.

Campylobacter coli infection in pet birds in southern Italy.

Avian species are considered as the main reservoir of Campylobacter spp. However, few data are available on the presence of this microorganism in pet birds. This study was therefore performed to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in pet birds bred in southern Italy. Faecal samples were collected from 88 cages housing different species of pet birds and examined by bacteriological culture and polymerase chain reaction. A total of 13.6% of the cage samples were positive for Campylobacter coli. Other Campylobacter spp. were not found. The study shows that C. coli can be isolated from the cages of apparently healthy pet birds, which should therefore be considered as potential carriers of C. coli and a possible source of infection for humans and companion animals.

New Diagnostic Insights for Macrorhabdus ornithogaster Infection.

The aim of this study was to propose the use of a new rapid and user-friendly diagnostic tool for the detection of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster infection in birds. The current report focuses on the diagnostic feasibility of different methods, with particular emphasis on the application of the mini-Flotac technique for the diagnosis of M. ornithogaster infection. The mini-Flotac method is particularly tailored for epidemiological monitoring and surveillance, where large numbers of fecal samples must be rapidly, yet reliably, examined. Gram staining, as the standard method, was used to validate the reliability of the mini-Flotac method. This tool has not yet been used in avian species or in the diagnosis of yeast infections. In our study, M. ornithogaster showed excellent performance in a flotation assay, which had not been demonstrated previously. Our results suggest that the mini-Flotac method is a valid, sensitive, and potentially low-cost alternative technique for use in the diagnosis of this yeast infection in birds.