Antibiotic resistance in wild birds

  • Jonas Bonnedahl Department of Infectious Diseases, Kalmar County Hospital, Sweden and Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Josef D. Järhult Section for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
Keywords: Antibiotic resistant bacteria, avian, bird migration, environment, ESBL, human–animal interface, transmission

Abstract

Wild birds have been postulated as sentinels, reservoirs, and potential spreaders of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been isolated from a multitude of wild bird species. Several studies strongly indicate transmission of resistant bacteria from human rest products to wild birds. There is evidence suggesting that wild birds can spread resistant bacteria through migration and that resistant bacteria can be transmitted from birds to humans and vice versa. Through further studies of the spatial and temporal distribution of resistant bacteria in wild birds, we can better assess their role and thereby help to mitigate the increasing global problem of antibiotic resistance.

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Published
2014-04-04
How to Cite
Bonnedahl J., & Järhult J. D. (2014). Antibiotic resistance in wild birds. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 119(2), 113–116. https://doi.org/10.3109/03009734.2014.905663