Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy
Clinically significant antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and resistance genes are increasingly being reported in wildlife. In this study, 127 splenic samples from red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) from northern and central Italy were analysed for the presence of resistance genes against an...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Antonietta Di Francesco Daniela Salvatore Roberta Taddei Fabrizio Bertelloni Caterina Lupini Giulia Cagnoli Valentina Virginia Ebani |
| author_facet | Antonietta Di Francesco Daniela Salvatore Roberta Taddei Fabrizio Bertelloni Caterina Lupini Giulia Cagnoli Valentina Virginia Ebani |
| author_sort | Antonietta Di Francesco |
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| description | Clinically significant antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and resistance genes are increasingly being reported in wildlife. In this study, 127 splenic samples from red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) from northern and central Italy were analysed for the presence of resistance genes against antimicrobials such as tetracycline, sulphonamide, β-lactam, and colistin, which were previously extensively used in human and veterinary management of bacterial diseases. One or more antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in 78 (61%) of 127 splenic samples. Polymerase chain reaction positivity was revealed for 13 genes—<i>tet</i>(A), <i>tet</i>(B), <i>tet</i>(K), <i>tet</i>(L), <i>tet</i>(M), <i>tet</i>(O), <i>tetA</i>(P), <i>tet</i>(Q), <i>tet</i>(S), <i>tet</i>(X), <i>sul1</i>, <i>sul2</i>, and <i>bla</i><sub>TEM-1</sub>—out of the 21 tested genes. Our results, corroborated by reports in the literature, confirm the potential role of the red fox as a sentinel for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in contaminated environments and suggest that detecting resistance genes in biological samples by a culture-independent method might be an effective tool for the epidemiological study of antimicrobial resistance in wildlife. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4e52234ca0af4e1eb75a87a11f9c2dc12025-08-20T02:48:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514202210.3390/ani15142022Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in ItalyAntonietta Di Francesco0Daniela Salvatore1Roberta Taddei2Fabrizio Bertelloni3Caterina Lupini4Giulia Cagnoli5Valentina Virginia Ebani6Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), “Bruno Ubertini”, Sede Territoriale di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyClinically significant antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and resistance genes are increasingly being reported in wildlife. In this study, 127 splenic samples from red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) from northern and central Italy were analysed for the presence of resistance genes against antimicrobials such as tetracycline, sulphonamide, β-lactam, and colistin, which were previously extensively used in human and veterinary management of bacterial diseases. One or more antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in 78 (61%) of 127 splenic samples. Polymerase chain reaction positivity was revealed for 13 genes—<i>tet</i>(A), <i>tet</i>(B), <i>tet</i>(K), <i>tet</i>(L), <i>tet</i>(M), <i>tet</i>(O), <i>tetA</i>(P), <i>tet</i>(Q), <i>tet</i>(S), <i>tet</i>(X), <i>sul1</i>, <i>sul2</i>, and <i>bla</i><sub>TEM-1</sub>—out of the 21 tested genes. Our results, corroborated by reports in the literature, confirm the potential role of the red fox as a sentinel for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in contaminated environments and suggest that detecting resistance genes in biological samples by a culture-independent method might be an effective tool for the epidemiological study of antimicrobial resistance in wildlife.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2022antimicrobial resistanceantimicrobial resistance geneswildlifered fox<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>PCR |
| spellingShingle | Antonietta Di Francesco Daniela Salvatore Roberta Taddei Fabrizio Bertelloni Caterina Lupini Giulia Cagnoli Valentina Virginia Ebani Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy Animals antimicrobial resistance antimicrobial resistance genes wildlife red fox <i>Vulpes vulpes</i> PCR |
| title | Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy |
| title_full | Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy |
| title_short | Antimicrobial Resistance and Wildlife: Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Red Foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, Linnaeus, 1758), in Italy |
| title_sort | antimicrobial resistance and wildlife occurrence of antimicrobial resistance genes in red foxes i vulpes vulpes i linnaeus 1758 in italy |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance antimicrobial resistance genes wildlife red fox <i>Vulpes vulpes</i> PCR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2022 |
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