Catalan scientists have published an extensive study on resistance rates in different animal streptococcus in Catalonia and on the genes associated with these resistances. The results obtained call for intensified shared surveillance to prevent repercussions on human health.
The study, published in Microbiology Spectrum, has been led by microbiologists from the Bellvitge University Hospital, the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), the University of Barcelona and the CIBER of Respiratory Diseases, in collaboration with the Animal Health Research Center (CReSA-IRTA), the Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM) of the UAB and the Université de Lorraine in France, among other institutions.
The study has retrospectively analyzed 307 isolated streptococcus from wild animals, farm animals and pets in Catalonia (brown boars, chamois, rabbits, dolphins, vultures, domestic pigs, cows, sheep, dogs and cats). Through specialized techniques, scientists have in depth analyzed the resistance of all of them to various types of antibiotics, especially macrolides and lincosamides.
Resistance of streptococcus to antibiotics, a global problem
Streptococci are bacteria that cause various infections in humans. Its growing resistance to macrolides has reduced the use of this family of antibiotics to treat these infections, leading to a worrying global health problem. In fact, the WHO recognizes resistance to macrolides in some streptococcus that infect humans as a global health problem.
The study has determined, among animal streptococcus in Catalonia, global resistance rates of 49.2% to macrolides and 57% to lincosamides. In most of these resistant strains, resistance to other classes of antibiotics has also been determined.
Resistances among farm animals are the highest
Farm animal streptococcus has been the most resistant. This is possibly due to the practice, in the past – already banned in Europe since 2006 – of promoting animal growth with antibiotics, or to massive treatments in epidemic risk situations that may have selected resistant lineages. In contrast, among wild animals, resistance rates have been quite low except in the case of wild boars (28.8%), probably due to their greater exposure to human and livestock environments.
On the transfer of resistance between bacteria from animals and humans
A selection of 50 resistant strains from the study have been subjected to complete genome sequencing (WGS). Through this analysis, the researchers have found genetic and molecular determinants of resistance already described above in human streptococcus, which warns about a potential transfer of resistance genes between animal and human streptococcus.
According to the authors, these findings highlight the need to strengthen the surveillance of antibiotic resistance within the framework of the One Health strategy, a vision that defends that human, animal and environmental health are deeply interconnected and that professionals from different fields – doctors, veterinarians, ecologists, public health experts, associations, governments – are needed to respond in a more global and effective way to health threats.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research center established in 2004 specialized in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine, and regenerative medicine. It counts on a team of more than 1.500 professionals who, from 73 research groups, publish more than 1.400 scientific articles per year. IDIBELL is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona, and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).