Ngaiganam, Edgarthe Priscilla, Pagnier, Isabelle, Chaalal, Wafaa, Leangapichart, Thongpan, Chabou, Selma, Rolain, Jean-Marc, and Diene, Seydina Mouhamadou
Background: We investigate here the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from stool samples of yellow-legged gulls and chickens (n?=?136) in urban parks and beaches of Marseille, France. Bacterial isolation was performed on selective media, including MacConkey agar with ceftriaxone and LBJMR medium. Antibiotic resistance genes, including extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) (i.e. blaCTX-M, blaTEMand blaSHV), carbapenemases (blaKPC, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-48and blaOXA-58) and colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-5) were screened by real-time PCR and standard PCR and sequenced when found. Results: Of the 136 stools samples collected, seven ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria (BGN) and 12 colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceaewere isolated. Among them, five ESBL-producing Escherichia coliand eight colistin-resistant Hafnia alveistrains were identified. Four blaTEM-1genes were detected in yellow-legged gulls and chickens. Three CTX-M-15 genes were detected in yellow-legged gulls and pigeons, and one CTX-M-1 in a yellow-legged gull. No mcr-1 to mcr-5 gene were detected in colistin-resistant isolates. Genotyping of E. colistrains revealed four different sequence types already described in humans and animals and one new sequence type. Conclusions: Urban birds, which are believed to have no contact with antibiotics appear as potential source of ESBL genes. Our findings highlight the important role of urban birds in the proliferation of multidrug-resistant bacteria and also the possible zoonotic transmission of such bacteria from wild birds to humans.