Wild birds as potential bioindicators of environmental antimicrobial resistance: A preliminary investigation

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern affecting human, animal, and environmental health. Wild birds, not directly exposed to antibiotics, can serve as bioindicators of AMR contamination. A study in the Emilia-Romagna region found that 117 bacterial strains were isolated from 73 birds, with the highest non-susceptibility percentages observed for tetracycline, enrofloxacin, oxacillin, clindamycin, and rifampicin among Gram-positive isolates. A higher AMR percentage was correlated with Gram-positive isolates from birds in rural/urban habitats. This preliminary study suggests wild birds could be used as bioindicators for monitoring AMR contamination in the environment.